Locals have pleaded with Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to reinstate County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo after he was moved to Tana River County in a recent reshuffle.
Mr Okwayo, who has been instrumental in curbing cattle rustling worked in the county for a year after succeeding Bernard Leparmarai, the current Bomet County Commissioner. Mr Chimwaga Mongo is the newly appointed Baringo County Commissioner.
Human Rights activist Kipruto Kimosop said Okwanyo highly participated and facilitated in peace building programmes that have restored security of the area.
"Okwanyo conducted several meetings with village elders, local administrators while fighting rampant insecurity in the area. It is through proper co-ordination that these incidences have reduced," Mr Kimosop said.
Identity cards
He said most residents were scared to carry out their daily activities following incidences of cattle rustling that have displaced over 20,000 people in the last one year.
He said a majority of residents in Baringo North were displaced and are currently living in Marigat town, adding that they do not have identity cards. The most affected areas, he said, are Tiaty, Baringo North, Baringo South and Baringo Central constituencies.
Kimosop said the commissioner also pinned down suspected cattle rustling suspects in the area who allegedly co-ordinated the menace.
"Most leaders and local politicians in the area plan for incidences of cattle rustling. Efforts made by the commissioner led to the arrest of some of the suspects and this was the best move in curbing the crime," he said.
Another resident Erick Mengich Bett said the commissioner could have been given more time to tame insecurity.
"The commissioner was the right person in curbing cattle rustling," Mr Bett said. Kimosop was, however, uncomfortable with his shoot to kill directive against cattle rustlers, whether armed or not.
