A humanitarian crisis is looming at the border of West Pokot and Turkana counties following intensified fighting between two neighbouring communities.
The conflict, which began with a raid where over 500 goats were stolen and residents of Kakong’u in Turkana South terrorised by bandits, has since spread to Kainuk, the border of the two counties, as well as other areas along the resource-rich River Turkwel basin.
The skirmishes which intensified a week ago, have since claimed lives of three people and injured five others including a schoolboy, a police reservist and a police officer attached to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU).
The livelihoods of residents of two wards in Turkana South sub-county- Lobokat and Kaputir have been severely affected after raiders launched brazen attacks at will.
At the weekend, a gang of heavily armed raiders invaded Kainuk ASTU camp and engaged security officers in a fierce gun battle that lasted for about two hours.
In the process, a police officer was shot twice on the shoulder and one herder who was caught in the cross fight suffered a gunshot wound on the chin.
According to police, the bandits also went on spraying bullets on business establishments at the trading centre and at the nearby Kainuk Health Centre.
Locals are now crying out for help, warning the situation is steadily getting out of hand if urgent intervention is not put in place.
Peter Ekidor, a local, said many people who had found a safe haven in Kainuk conducting business are now fleeing in fear of more attacks.
“The raiders are brazen, even the security officers cannot daunt them from launching attacks. Businesses and liveli hoods are slowly grinding to a halt and if transport is completely paralyzed then people will suffer the most,” said Ekidor.
Benson Ewoi who lost his relative in the latest attack said they have since deserted their homes and moved further towards Lokichar, over 100 kilometres away.
“I had remained with my other brother to tend to livestock but since they have been taken away by the bandits, we shall also move to Lokichar lest we lose our lives,” said distraught Ewoi.
He said he lost over 200 goats in the raid carried by suspected bandits from the neighbouring county last week.
Inspector General of Police Jospeh Boinnet in a statement on Monday over the ongoing skirmishes ordered the Rift Valley Regional Police Commander to use all available police resources to end the violence and restore order to allow members of the public lead normal lives.
“The RPC has further been ordered to step up investigations into the role of certain identified individuals who are suspected of inciting violence in the area and bring them to book in accordance with the law. We, therefore, call on members of the public to cooperate with the police officers in the effort to deal with rustlers out to wreck the peace and the trust the local residents have built amongst themselves,” read the tweet.
And Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok in a statement released by his Director of Communication John Emeripus, called on the national government, through Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and Police IG Joseph Boinett, to treat the situation as a security crisis that demands immediate and firm response.
“The continued lack of strong action has so far emboldened the resolve of criminals carrying out the attacks as witnessed through the brazen attack of police posts in the area, and that there is a grave danger that impunity will take root if crimes of internal terrorism is left unpunished and perpetrators of these crimes, who belong in prison, left to roam free,” said Mr Nanok.
He said the government has intelligence on the attacks and they should act fast and arrest those perpetrating it regardless of their social standing.
“Crude oil transportation from Lokichar oil fields to Mombasa has had to be halted for days despite the police escort that is provided for the convoy of trucks. The delays provide an unwanted disruption to the oil exploration schedule will only add to the already huge cost of the venture, which will have to be recovered from the oil revenue,” he stated.
The Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Abass Gullet called on the warring communities to cease hostilities for the sake of innocent lives being caught in the fight as well as allow ease of travel for passenger between Lodwar and Kitale.
