Why Angata Barikoi has been slapt with night curfew

 

Families displaced by ethnic clashes shelter at Sankale Comprehensive School in Trans Mara. [Peter Kipkemboi, Standard]

The decision to enforce a curfew in parts of Narok County was informed by intelligence reports that members of a certain community planned to carry out a “serious” retaliatory attack at the volatile Angata Barikoi–Lolgorian border.

Security agents had been informed that one of the warring communities was planning to retaliate the December 13 attack that left two youths dead and more than five others injured.

Since April, the border has been a flashpoint of fights between the Kipsigis, Maasai and Kuria communities. The disputes revolve around cattle rusting and land ownership.

“We received credible intelligence that one of the communities was planning to conduct a massive attack that could have resulted in loss of many lives. To preempt this attack, the government decided to impose the dusk-to-dawn curfew as more officers are deployed on the ground,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.

While on an inspection tour of the area on Saturday, Lagat announced the curfew that will also extend to Trans Mara West sub county. According to Lagat, who was accompanied by DIG Gilbert Masengeli, the two sub counties are considered disturbed areas, and that only a special operation will restore calm.

In Trans Mara South, the 6pm to 6am curfew will be observed in Siteti, Ololoma, Oldonyo-Orok, Ratiki, Kona, Isokon, Olkiloriti, Kondamet, Kerinkani, Angata Barikkoi, Lolgorian, Kapkures, Sachangwan and Mashangwa villages.

Lagat ordered those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them within 72 hours.

The DIG made the curfew announcement on a day that the Kenya Red Cross Society warned of a looming humanitarian crisis if no action is taken by the government.

According to the organisation, in a span of three days, 253 households were burnt down leaving 1,800 residents displaced.

“Children, women, and persons with disabilities are the most affected, with food stores destroyed by fire,” Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.

“Those people who are advancing criminal activities in Angata Barikoi, we are coming for you and that menace should stop immediately,” said Lagat pledging to ensure peace is restored through the additional deployment of General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and Rapid Deploy Unit (RDU) officers.

Lagat said the dusk-to-dawn curfew was the last option after dialogue failed between the Kipsigis and Maasai communities.

“The biggest challenge we are having is that dialogue has failed to solve the problem, and as a result, we have decided to gazette some areas for the purpose of enforcing the curfew,” explained the DIG.

Lagat put on notice people who, he said, were inciting communities against each other, the financiers and those in possession of weapons believed to be used in fuelling the hostilities.

“The commanders on the ground have firm instructions to contain the situation as soon as possible so that locals can enjoy Christmas without having to worry about their safety,” he added.