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In January 2011, Julius Gitonga landed a teaching job at Gerille Primary School in Kenya's Wajir District, hoping to help lift the area's education standards.

He had been in the job barely a week when al-Shabaab attacked the border town, killing six people and kidnapping three government officials. Gitonga, four police officers and an expectant mother were killed in the attack, according to North Eastern Province Police Chief Leo Nyongesa.

The deaths and subsequent grenade and landmine attacks by the al-Qaeda-allied al-Shabaab movement sparked fear among teachers, with some fleeing border-town schools.

Mahat Dore Ahmed, secretary general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers Wajir Branch, said he feels a sense of loss when he recalls what happened to Gitonga.

"As a union that represents the interests and welfare of teachers, we asked teachers in border schools to stay away as a precaution until their security could be guaranteed," Ahmed told Sabahi.

Wajir District Education Officer Kenneth Makokha told Sabahi that Gerille Primary School closed for two months following Gitonga's death.

"At least 10 teachers in Diif, Dadajabula, Burder and Gerille primary schools in Wajir District are yet to report back, citing security concerns. This affects a combined population of more than 4,000 students," he said.

Makokha said authorities have increased police presence to ensure teachers' security inside and outside schools.

According to North Eastern Provincial Director of Education Aadan Sheikh Abdullahi, the districts of Garissa, Mandera and Ijara have been equally affected by teachers withdrawing.

He said some teachers applied for transfers, citing security issues. The region already suffers an acute teacher shortage, and any transfer out of the region will have a negative impact on local education standards, he said.

Increased security in border towns

The Kenyan government says it has beefed up security in the border towns since March and is attempting to bring back teachers who fled.

Wajir South District Commissioner George Otieno said security has been enhanced, including reinforcement of security personnel, increased border patrols and strengthened intelligence gathering to suppress potential threats.

"There were genuine security concerns for the teachers last year and early this year, but we have addressed the situation and the teachers should resume their duties," he said.

"We are working with education stakeholders and the general community in all border towns to ensure safety for all," he said.

Otieno told Sabahi that some of teachers had returned as of last month.

He praised the community for standing united and realising that public safety is everyone's responsibility. The community has distanced itself from the terrorists by providing authorities with crucial information, he said.

Police Chief Nyongesa told Sabahi that police have been patrolling public buildings to prevent future attacks from al-Shabaab, which has threatened to attack government facilities, even schools and hospitals.