Residents flee Marakwet as three relatives killed

By Vincent Bartoo

Residents of Marakwet are fleeing their homes following three grisly murders that left them in shock.

A gang of ten armed youths believed to have committed the crime at the weekend is giving police in the area sleepless nights.

Marakwet OCPD Dido Galgalo told The Standard that the gang had been engaging police pursuing them in a fierce exchange of fire.

"They have been shooting at us but they have nowhere to hide. We have deployed a contingent that will soon catch up with them," he said.

The gang shot dead a man, his daughter and nephew before locking them in a house and setting it ablaze in Kerbut.

Following the attack last Friday, homes have been deserted as families fled to neighbouring Biyaal and Kasui villages.

Fighting with police

The attack follows a long-standing dispute over a 600-acre land between the Karrel and Katkau-Kamoi clans.

"We fear more bloodshed and we do not want to take chances, especially with the way this gang is fighting with police," said Mr Joseph Chebii, a resident. Tension is high with fears that the clan the deceased belonged to would avenge the killings.

But Marakwet DC Joseph Kisangau warned locals against attacks.

"Do not take the law into your hands because all of you will become criminals. Let the Government deal with this issue because we are capable," he said.

Meanwhile, the killing of seven people and stealing of 1,650 livestock is a threat the Turkana-Pokot peace pact, an MP has claimed.

Turkana South MP Josephat Nanok in a petition to the Rift Valley PC Hassan Noor suspected Pokot said cattle rustlers have launched four raids since the peace agreement on June 29.

"The resolutions of the meetings have been trashed and a woman, a child and five herdsmen have been killed in attacks since the agreement," said the Forest and Wildlife Assistant Minister.

Cattle rustling

He said the Government had failed to implement the agreements arrived at between local leaders.

"A day after the peace meeting a woman and a child were killed followed by the murder of five men in Kainuk. Raiders stole 400 camels, 1,200 goats, 254 goats during the incident," said Nanok.

Turkana South DC Joseph Kanyiri adequate security measures had been put in place to prevent further attacks.

The MP said leaders had agreed during the meeting to end cattle rustling and disarm pastoralist to ensure peace prevails after many years of insecurity.

Information and Communication Minister Samuel Poghisio, Baringo East MP Osman Kamama, Sigor MP Wilson Litole and district commissioners from the affected districts attended the meeting that was chaired by the Rift Valley PC.

The meeting resolved that the Government forcefully disarms all the pastoralists owning illegal guns to curb the cattle rustling.