Mandera killers will be brought to justice, vows Deputy President William Ruto

Kenya: Deputy President William Ruto has said the Government will pursue the Mandera killers and bring them to justice for however much they try to escape.

Ruto said the Government had deployed a team of National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kenya Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to Mandera to hunt down the terrorists who struck a Nairobi-bound bus in Arabiya area killing 28 people.

“The Government has begun a man-hunt of the terrorists and we have vowed to bring them to justice. We shall pursue them. Let them know that they will be apprehended,” he said.

Ruto put on notice criminals, saying their days are numbered. “Those who think they will take the lives of other Kenyans and go scot-free have no room in Kenya,” he said.

The Deputy President was speaking yesterday at Barwessa Day and Boarding Secondary School in Kerio Valley, Baringo County, during a harambee for the construction of a dormitory, a science laboratory, an administration block and drilling of a borehole.

And in reference to the on-going military operation in East Pokot, Ruto asked politicians not to politicise a ‘security matter’. He said the Government will not stop until all criminals are flushed out and peace is restored.

He reminded Kenyans that it was part of the Jubilee Government’s manifesto to foster peace and ensure development in all corners of the country.

“Let us not politicise security issues. Terrosists, thugs and cattle rustlers belong together. They are all criminals and have no place in the society,” he said.

Baringo North MP William Cheptumo, who hosted the Deputy President, told off a section of Pokot leaders who want the Government to call off the military operation, saying it was the request of the people of Baringo that the Government mops up illegal firearms in Tiaty.

“The people of Baringo County have for a long time cried for justice from cattle rustlers. As one of their leaders, who am I not to support their calls?” he said.

The MP said peace must be restored by all means for development to be realised in the volatile region.

During the harambee, Ruto announced plans by the Government to construct a 200km road network in Baringo County in the next five years.

The first phase of the project, he said, will be Mochongoi-Karnde-Marigat road. It will then be followed by Mogotio-Lake Baringo-Marigat road and the completion of the Eldma Ravine-Tenges-Kabarnet road.

The project, which will cost Sh10 billion, will also include the tarmacking of the Oinobmoi-Salawa-Koloa road which residents, through Barswessa MCA Joseph Makilap, have been pleading for a facelift.

“I have heard your request through MCA Makilap. The Government will start works on the Oinomoi-Salawa-Koloa road from January next year. Consider the project as accepted,” he told the elated residents. On Agriculture, the DP announced that the Government will from next year put more than 250,000 acres of land under irrigation in Kerio Valley to enhance food production as a way of fostering peace and discourage cattle rustling.

He said the project will be implemented jointly by the ministries of Water and that of Agriculture through the Kerio Valley Development Agency. “This is purely to ensure food security in the region. We also intend to create employment and open the area for development,” he said.

The Deputy President, however, challenged county assemblies to play an oversight role on the the funds the National Treasury allocates the county government.

“The MCAs have a role to ensure money allocated to the counties go to the right projects.The money is enough to bring meaningful development if well manged,” said the DP.

Other leaders who attended the function were MPs Moses Lessonet (Eldama Ravine), Benard Shinali (Ikolomani), David Wafula (Saboti) and Irungu Khang’ata (Kiharu).