Kamama told to quit security team

Pressure from a section of Members of the National Assembly is mounting on Tiaty MP Asman Kamama to resign from the chairmanship of the powerful departmental committee on security following continued attacks and senseless killings in his region.

The Saturday attack on a police vehicle along the Chemolingot-Kapedo Road by Pokot militiamen that resulted to the death of six people including three police officers has further plunged the MP into the spotlight.

Leading the onslaught is Turkana South MP James Lomenen who says the only way the lawmaker can convince Kenyans he is innocent of the atrocities meted out by his people is through resignation, failure to which he should be axed through a vote of no confidence.

“This is enough for us. We have kept silent even when many of our people were killed and impoverished after their animals were stolen. Kamama must be held responsible and he must resign,” he says.

Today, Rugus, Mukutani and Arabal - all in Baringo South Sub-county remain ghost towns. Human population has been forcefully moved from their homes after deadly attacks from militiamen whose aim, victims recall, is to kill, steal and evict.

With these forced evictions, residents are now pursuing a bitter theory that the war waged by the Pokot is an intricate ploy by its leaders to capture pasture-rich regions within Ilchamus and Endorois land in a territorial war that would alter history.

Not long ago, herds of Pokot cattle could be seen browsing peacefully in Ngelecha, Rugus, parts of Arabal in Baringo South and Kaborion in Baringo North.

But today, the once economically-endowed residents have been reduced to beggars after years of repeated attacks and theft.

Early this year, Bartwabwa Location chief in Baringo North presented to The Standard on Sunday a list of 15 people who were killed by Pokot in the area in the last two years as rights activist Moses Ole Mpaka presented another 69 people killed in Ilchamus.

Kamama’s name has always been dragged into the disturbing debate on the Pokot conflict.
His position as chairman of the National Security Committee and Administration raises more questions as to whether he uses the position to protect his people at the expense of raids and callous killings.

Dismissed claims

But in his defence, Kamama dismissed as baseless claims linking him to the atrocities. He told The Standard on Sunday that with sophisticated investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations or the Scotland Yard, results will emerge that his name is “as white as snow” and he will be set free.

“I don’t support banditry by any means. The committee I sit on plays an oversight role and we only advance the decisions of the Government, not Kamama’s,” he argues.

He says that he has been on the forefront of championing for peace among neighbouring communities, adding that the few criminals who continue to terrorise people should be arrested.

“The police should do their work. They (bandits) are criminals like those in other parts of this country. They are on their own and the police should pursue and arrest them,” he says. But even with his fierce defence, already, the Baringo Human Rights Consortium (BHRC) is demanding answers as to why he was left out by the criminal investigation officers who arrested Baringo speaker and two Pokot MCAs last week in connection with the killings.

In their argument, the rights group is convinced that the MP would be the best person to stop his people from attacking their neighbours.

But sadly, they noted, this has not been the case always.

BHRC chairman Kipruto Kimosop questions the moral standing of the MP in regard to a repeated wave of crime against humanity.

“You cannot be a leader who does not understand what the people you lead do. That would be a falsehood. I wonder what he is still doing as committee chair, he should have resigned long time ago” he says.

Turkana Central Member of Parliament, John Lodepe wants the MP axed from the position saying that he has taken a partisan approach towards ending the age-old menace.

Impeachment bid

“In May, Kamama survived an impeachment Motion after a tactful postponement in what sources privy to the happenings revealed to The Standard on Sunday that was due to “serious lobbying.”

But Samburu West MP Lati Lelelit defended Kamama’s role in the skirmishes. The legislator denied claims that the MP is using his position in Parliament to oversee war.
“No one can use such a position to protect his people who are doing atrocities, those are bandits who should be dealt with. There is no leader who can couch his people into war,” says Mr Lelelit.

Baringo County Criminal Investigations Commander John Momanyi told The Standard on Sunday he was investigating more leaders from Tiaty with the view of arresting them.