Natembeya engages politicians in his agenda of restoring peace in volatile Rift region

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya during an interview at his office in Nakuru on July 25, 2019. [Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya has promised to help end cattle rustling blamed for insecurity and poor development in the region. 

The tough-talking administrator has warned leaders against funding cattle rustling and arming bandits for political gain.

“Several politicians, among them serving Members of Parliament and MCAs are on the radar as we believe they are behind cases of cattle rustling that result into animosity,” he said. In an interview with the Sunday Standard, he promised to restore calm in Elgeyo Markwet, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Baringo and Laikipia counties. 

Government intelligence reports revealed that a number of politicians conduct secret meetings with bandits but ironically cry for justice in public. “If politicians show a different image in private and pretend to be good in public, we shall know, and shall go for such politicians because we cannot be condemning and supporting at the same time,” he said.

Natembeya (pictured) wants to work with politicians to end insecurity in the region. “If politicians are on the other side, let them come to our side. We do not want to fight, because if we fight with them, we are going to win ultimately because war must be won, we shall win, but they rather come to our side, and we win together,” he said.

“We want politicians to read from same script with us to see people’s standards improve. It is unfortunate that politicians are spending a lot of money to appease criminals who continue to languish in poverty,” he said.

The administrator noted that borders are meant for administrative purposes and not to divide communities.

“Communities should put themselves in other’s shoes and share resources without considering boundary dispute that remains for administration,” he said.

Security agencies are planning forceful disarmament at the border points.

The operation shall cover West Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Markwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu.

“There is a ready market of firearms in the Rift and this is why we want to find a way of containing so that we do not have in flow of guns in the country used to commit crimes,” said the coordinator.

Training of national police reservists (NPR) recruits is ongoing, and already at least 40 have been deployed to Kerio Valley at the border of Elgeyo Markwet and Baringo counties.

Some reservists have been accused of siding with their communities during resolution of conflict. “These NPR have been a problem, this is why they are being vetted and trained and taking them to live in camps where they mix with those from different tribes for integration,” he said.

Last week Tiaty MP William Kamket lauded the government for disarming police reservists.

Addressing locals at Kolowa in Tiaty, Kamket said issuance of firearms to NPR was akin to arming communities against others.

“It is unfair for government to have issued 700 firearms to NPR in Elgeyo Markwet and only 40 in Tiaty. This is unfair because it is just arming one community against another,” he said.