Abstract: conflicts in pastoral areas have affected students’ learning resulting in high drop out rates and poor academic performance of in examinations. The research sought to investigate how provision of low-cost boarding facilities affected students’ performance in Pokot Central Sub County. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The researcher targeted public secondary schools in Pokot Central Sub County. In the schools the researcher targeted principals, teachers and Form III students. The study used purposive sampling technique in selecting principals and simple random sampling technique in selecting form III students. The sample size represented 30% of the target population. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used as data collection instruments. The data was analysed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The research results showed that boarding facilities had improved academic performance of students in that it provided a safe environment for learning and it increased students’ concentration in studies. Boarding facilities provide access to education for learners from poor backgrounds and those from disaster / insecurity prone areas. Low-cost boarding facilities exposed learners to experiences beyond their local communities, thereby fostering unity, cohesion and integration. Low-cost boarding schools provided access to education for students who could not be retained in schools as a result of their parents moving from one place to another (pastoralism) and those from far areas. Therefore, the incidents of dropouts, truancy, early marriages, or accidents / attacks along the way significantly reduced. The study recommends that the government should provide security to schools in order to protect students, teachers and school property.

Abstract: The study purposed to investigate the students’ absenteeism and its influence on education of pastoralists’ communities in public secondary schools in Longido District. The objectives of the study were to; determine the cultural factors for students’ absenteeism among the pastoralist communities in public secondary schools, and find out the influence of students’ absenteeism on the education of pastoralist communities in Longido District. The study employed ex-post facto research design and mixed methods approach. Data was collected from nine Heads of schools, 45 form four students, 45 parents and 27 teachers using Questionnaire, interview guide and focus group discussion. In total, 126 respondents were selected using simple random, stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The reliability test (r = 0.7) of the questionnaires was determined, after a pilot study. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in the SPSS version 20 and results were presented in tables of frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically alongside research questions. The findings revealed that cultural ceremonial events, movement with animals, early marriage, and night traditional dances are the major cultural factors for students’ absenteeism. Also revealed were absenteeism negatively affects achievement of students’ educational goal, score in examination impairs educational growth of school, and leads to the increase in community illiteracy, unskilled students and failure to finish school on time. The study recommends that parents and students should attend special seminars and workshops which outline the importance of discarding outdated cultural practices like female genital mutilation and early marriages.