West Pokot governor faults top security officers

Governor Simon Kachapin has accused top security officials in the county of laxity and blamed them for insecurity in the region.

The county boss claimed there was poor co-ordination among security agents in the area and that police patrols had ceased.

Mr Kachapin said he would lead local residents in demonstrations against the national government for failing to provide adequate security.

"There is poor co-ordination among various security organs and even conducting patrols is a challenge," he said.

He asked the Government to crack the whip by sacking security officers who were not up to the task.

Kachapin said incidents of insecurity continued to be witnessed along the border with neighbouring Turkana County despite peace drives by leaders.

Lost lives

The county boss said insecurity had affected the region's economy as investors shied away.

Efforts by leaders from the two neighbouring counties to foster peace along their common border have borne little fruit even after agreeing on a 50-point strategy to curb insecurity.

The leaders met at a Kitale hotel last week and resolved to end the conflicts along the border.

"Why should the security officers get paid when they are doing nothing?" posed Kachapin.

He said he regretted that many lives had been lost through crime in the region when there was security personnel supposedly manning different areas.