Kenya: Questions raised over leaders' empty rhetoric as cattle rustling escalates between Turkana and Pokot

NAIROBI: The killings at Nadome in Tiaty constituency on Monday when Turkana bandits engaged with armed Pokots after botched raid brings into sharp focus the Government's seriousness in tackling insecurity in Baringo.

The orders usually fall on deaf ears as leaders of the targeted communities always rally behind their 'people' and have the order quashed as soon as the operation starts.

Just in nine months, hundreds of lives have been lost in the banditry-prone Baringo County despite the Government talking tough every time there is an attack, without matching with actions.

And even when Jubilee duo of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto were campaigning in Baringo, they promised to end cattle rustling once and for all.

Ruto while campaigning in Mochongoi, Baringo in January 2013, two months before the General Election, warned the cattle rustlers to prepare to pack and go when they take over the Government.

"We want to issue an ultimatum to cattle rustlers in the country that after the March 4 elections, they will have nowhere to hide. They should either move out of the country or end their way of living," he said in January 11, 2013.

But two years down the line, the rustlers continue having a field day, killing with abandon. They are yet to move out of the county, instead displacing thousands of residents.

The bandits continue defying orders and not even President Kenyatta's visit and 24-hour ultimatum for them to surrender in November last year following the killing of 21 police officers in one swoop at Kapedo bore much fruit.

Instead, the bandits duped the Government agencies by surrendering the 21 guns they stole from the slain officers, without even one bullet, despite stealing thousands of them.

And immediately Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett was sworn in, he on March 28 issued another ultimatum to bandits in Baringo to surrender arms within 12 hours or face consequences.

"I told them there will be no mercy for rustlers, bandits and other elements who are bent on making that area insecure, thereby negatively affecting livelihoods of the people and general social and economic well being and development," Boinett told the Standard then. This was not to be.

SCHOOLS CLOSED

Two days later, Boinett's ultimatum having expired without any tangible result, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaiserry issued a one-week ultimatum to residents in possession of illegally acquired firearms to register, surrender them or face the full force of law.

Nkaiserry issued the directive while touring the cattle rustling-prone Baringo-Turkana-West Pokot border where he expressed shock that schools had been closed and residents displaced by the menace.

"You either register, surrender all the guns that you have acquired illegally or we take them by force," warned Nkaiserry, saying firm security measures had been put in place to bring to an end incessant banditry and cattle rustling.

"I am shocked at the state of things here and we will not allow this to continue. When I took over this position on December 24, last year, I promised Kenyans that I will do the much I can to restore law and order across the country," he said

"I have to deliver as per the President's wish and the Constitution which guarantees all Kenyans of their security," added the CS.

Nkaiserry and Boinett were following the same script by their predecessors, who also on a number of times during their tenure issued empty threats, which were never followed up with any action.

In June last year, the then Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and then Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku directed the resumption of disarmament exercise in warring pastoralist communities to recover illegal arms.

And on July 13, 2013, while on a tour to Baragoi, Lenku talked tough to bandits, giving them a two-week ultimatum to surrender 48 firearms stolen during the Baragoi massacre or else suffer a forceful disarmament.

The bandits defied the order, which was viewed as long overdue and not a single gun was handed over to the local provincial administration as Lenku had directed. However, after the amnesty period ended, the said operation never took place apart from deployment of officers who whiled away their time in the camps.

It is ironical that despite hundreds of security personnel, including General Service Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit, Regular and Administration Police camping in various spots in Baringo, the area continues to be the epicentre of banditry.