Baringo Senator Gideon Moi wants State to profile, compensate banditry victims

Baringo county senator Gideon Moi  during a fundraiser at Seretunin,Baringo county PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has asked the national government to start a nationwide campaign to profile banditry victims in pastoral regions in a bid to compensate them.

The senator also pointed out that people displaced in the county since 2005 as a result of frequent raids by Pokot bandits should be documented as internally displaced persons (IDPs) recognised by the Government so that they are offered full compensation.

"For many years, many people have lost their lives and property in Baringo and other counties due to cattle rustling. It is time these people are paid for the losses," said Gideon.

Speaking yesterday during a funds drive at Kapkawa Secondary School at Seretunin, Baringo County accompanied by Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita, the senator expressed his displeasure over what he termed as "continued displacement" of residents without any meaningful intervention from the State.

"We will all appreciate when the Government will recognise the predicament the people of Baringo South, Baringo North and parts of Laikipia and Turkana are undergoing due to banditry. We need a meaningful end to this menace," he reiterated.

Compulsory schooling

For peace and unity to be realised, Gideon said, development projects like road infrastructure and compulsory schooling should be introduced for the benefit of the Pokot community in Tiaty.

"Some of these people are raiders due to ignorance, poverty and retrogressive cultural beliefs. We should open up the region through education," he said.

Gideon, who donated Sh500,000 to the school, also announced that the Government, through international development partners, had secured Sh58 billion for the development of geothermal energy in the county.

"If the geothermal potential is fully developed in Baringo, more than 3,000 people will secure direct employment, among other goodies.

"I have travelled to France, Germany and the US to negotiate with international partners and I am happy I have just concluded the deal that would see geothermal projects rolling any time from now," said Gideon, also the Senate Energy Committee chairman.

He raised concerns over dwindling education standards in the county.