KDF now accused of scaring away villagers, looting at volatile Tiaty

Tension was high Saturday between residents of Chesitet in Tiaty, Baringo County and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers undertaking a security operation.

The officers reportedly stormed Natan, Chesitet, Chepkow and Napeikore villages, in Silale ward and drove more than 2,000 goats and unknown number of cattle to Chesitet barracks.

Residents claimed the military launched missiles, scaring residents who had been mobilised to confront the officers.

Mr Carlos Kapkoikat, a resident who escaped the swoop, said about four choppers hovered in the skies for the better part of yesterday as soldiers on foot moved from one homestead to the other and rounded up women and children. “They are holding our children and women at the barracks,” he said.

East Pokot Deputy Commissioner Daniel Kirui confirmed the attack, but, could not comment on the matter, saying ‘the military head of operation was best placed to comment on the matter’.

Kapedo East chief Lomunasiwa Lotlemuria, who spoke to The Standard on Sunday from the bush where he was hiding, said KDF was continuing with the raids rounding up villagers with their livestock.

“Men are in the bush. It is a disaster here and we fear the worst is yet to happen,” Lotlemuria said. Nelson Lotellah, Silale ward representative, where the assault took place, said the incident was a provocation of the community.

“Livestock in Pokot is an equivalent of life. Taking their animals is an abomination. This is utterly unfair,” said Lotellah. He appealed to the military to release the families and find other ways of flushing out criminals.

“The community has surrendered the 21 guns, which were taken from the slain 21 officers. We appeal that the military be withdrawn if they are now mistreating our women and children,” said Lottellah.

Mysterious discovery

Yesterday’s military assault comes two days after a section of Pokot leaders demanded an investigation over a mysterious discovery of 38 cows at Lanet Barracks in Nakuru County.

The cows, according to the leaders, were snatched at Chesakam area during in incident in which 78 cattle were allegedly shot dead by suspected KDF soldiers along Chemolingot- Kapedo road.

Kapkoikat alleged the officers who had arrived at the area in 12 military trucks took advantage and the confusion to load the missing animals on lorries and fled.

During the attack, he said KDF scared herders and villagers away by firing heavy artillery at nearby hills before executing their heinous crimes as he called for thorough investigations to establish the truth.

“People fled their homes when they witnessed innocent animals brutalised. Survivors were loaded into trucks and taken to the barracks,” he alleged.

Kapkoikat sensationally claimed the cattle were initially taken to Chesitet Military camp before being sneaked out through Chemolingot –Marigat road to 3KA where they are being grazed under a watchful eye of junior military officers. Augustine Loripo, a resident, asked the Government to take action against rogue military officers, who are taking advantage of the disarmament exercise to enrich themselves.

He said the soldiers were no longer interested in pursuing criminals but rather busy looting and harassing law abiding residents.

“Disarmament is allowed, Pokot community supports it but acts by military to resort in taking people’s animals by force amounts to another form of cattle rustling”, he said.

He said security officers have killed at least 240 donkeys, 83 cows, nine camels and several goats since the operation kicked off a fortnight ago. “Military ensured areas affected are completely cut off, residents have been denied access and even the media so that nobody knows exactly what transpired,” he added.