Baringo County Speaker Kassait Kamket arrested at JKIA over alleged incitement

Nairobi, Kenya: Baringo County Speaker Kassait Kamket was Tuesday night arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while headed for Qatar.

He was being sought by police over clashes in the area that left five police officers dead.

Police said he will be taken to Baringo for grilling. Police had been monitoring his movements before they arrested him at about 1 am.

Kamket confirmed his arrest on his Facebook page.

“This is to let all friends, comrades, compatriots and gallant sons and daughters of Tiaty and Baringo County that the forces of evil have conspired to successfully have me arrested tonight at Jomo Kenyatta Airport. I am now detained here.”

 He added: “I urge all the people of goodwill to join me in prayer so as to defeat this evil conspiracy. Together we shall emerge out of this stronger than ever before. God bless.”

Some residents were also killed in the clashes at the weekend when a group of cattle rustlers struck and fled with animals.

Since then, a major police operation has been launched to flush out the attackers who the victims claimed were from Pokot.

The residents have accused security forces of waging a terror campaign against them during an ongoing operation to flush out attackers.

Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo has warned that the ongoing operation would continue until firearms and more than 400 rounds of ammunition stolen from the slain officers are recovered.

The operation was launched after five people including police officers were killed at the weekend in Kapedo. They accuse security teams involved in the operation of allegedly burning down a primary school, homes and business premises at two trading centres in Nginyang division, Tiaty Constituency.

Lonyangapuo Chesitet Primary School, shops at Chesitet and Amayen centres, residential homes including a pastor's house are among structures destroyed by people, residents insist were police officers pursuing suspected cattle rustlers.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi said those behind the arson attacks must be arrested and brought to book. He insisted that tension in the region is boundary-related.

"Destruction of schools and private property will never be a solution to this problem and that is why as leaders, we demand an immediate investigation into the whole issue," said Gideon, who held a series of peace meetings with Pokot community leaders at Lake Bogoria SPA resort for the better part of Tuesday.

Tension is also mounting in Kapedo following threats by Pokot bandits to attack a local General Service Unit camp.

"Those risking the lives of other Kenyans should not be spared. It is clear in my mind that the law allows our forces to use their firearms as required," said Tiaty MP Asman Kamama, who is also the National Security and Administration committee chairman.