North Rift residents worry that e­fforts to stop cattle raids may be useless

Armed youths keep vigil at Silale near Nadome in Baringo County after raiders attacked Nadome Village, killing more than 50 people last month. [PHOTOS: KIPSANG JOSEPH/STANDARD]

For Leah Chelimo of Kasee village in West Pokot County, the recent loss of her livestock was not the first, but it was the most painful as it demonstrated how powerless she is in the face of bandit attacks.

A raid at her village only a day after a peace caravan meeting was held some kilometres from Kasee in the Turkwel Gorge flew in the face of efforts to promote peace in the region.

Leaders from Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu had met with local people to discuss how to promote peace in the troubled North Rift region through an initiative now called the peace caravan.

“This is a clear indication that the meetings are futile; there is nothing to celebrate,” says Chelimo.

In Chelimo’s assessment, such meetings are of little consequence as raiders attack immediately after or just before these gatherings.

“Recently, before the peace caravan came to this area, more than 40 goats were stolen from Kasee Village, and then a vehicle was shot at in the evening after the meeting,” she says.

“We can only consider the peace meetings successful if our children are able to attend school in a peaceful environment. Many schools remain closed due to insecurity, including Kasee and Lonayreng primary schools, which have not opened for two terms.”

Boundary disputes Leaders, including governors, senators and members of the National Assembly from four counties, recently held a seven-day peace caravan in the conflict zone.

The caravan was launched a few days after the Nadome massacre on May 4, during which more than 60 people were killed. The killings occurred when Turkana raiders descended on a village in East Pokot at the boundary between Turkana and Baringo counties.

During the peace meetings, West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin, Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok, Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and senators John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Gideon Moi (Baringo) and John Munyes (Turkana) urged local communities to stop killing each other over boundary disputes and instead let area leaders and the government resolve the issue.

MPs present were Asman Kamama (Tiaty), Grace Kipchoim (Baringo South), Grace Kiptui (Baringo) and Nixon Ngikor (Turkana East).

While addressing residents, Gideon Moi urged the State to play its role by supporting efforts by politicians to bring peace. He said disarmament, re-opening of closed schools and compensation of those attacked were included in a long list of resolutions agreed on at State House.

“I am eagerly waiting to see what action the Government will take. Students have been at home for too long and we need to see security officers deployed to all areas affected by the conflict ahead of the re-opening of schools,” the senator said.

But tempers flared even in these meetings, underpinning the volatility of the matter. During one of the meetings last week, a Turkana ward representative triggered heated discussions when he declared that the Turkwel power plant was in Turkana County. The sentiments were echoed by Turkana South MP James Lomenen who accused the Pokot of attempting to evict the Turkana from their land through banditry and cattle rustling.

“You say that Lorogon and Kainuk areas are yours; take them then. We have lost many people and we are tired of burials. We need peace so that our people can concentrate on their businesses without fear,” said Lomenen.

Turkwel is one of the disputed areas and many lives have been lost due to conflict between the Pokot and Turkana communities. The caravan did not go to Turkwel due to tension over the power plant.

In Baringo, lately the epicentre of the violence, some residents from the cattle-rustling-prone Baringo South and Baringo North constituencies, are sharply divided over the recently concluded North Rift political leaders’ peace caravan.

Although those from the Tiaty sub-county say the leaders are moving in the right direction in pursuing peace, cattle rustling victims are not so convinced.

Richard Chepchomei, a resident of Yatia village in Baringo North, says that forceful and comprehensive disarmament is the only way to stop cattle rustling in Baringo County and other parts of the North Rift region.

Like-minded residents have asked the national government to be wary of cattle rustling warlords, whose want to see banditry thrive.

“Those who attend peace rallies are innocent and law-abiding citizens; they are the victims. The Government should be told that criminals and the actual perpetrators of this violence are enjoying their loot in the thicket,” said Chepchomei.

A few kilometres away is Kagir village where schools, homesteads and shopping centres have remained deserted for the last three years.

Last week, Richard Chemosoi had to walk 20 kilometres to get to Kagir Primary School, now a ghost institution as he and thousands of other residents fled the rustlers responsible for death, theft and destruction of property.

Chemosoi says several peace meetings have been conducted by government, church and non-governmental agencies but security has not improved.

“Peace talks involving the Pokot, Illchamus and Tugen communities have been organised before,” he says.

At Sirata and Loitip villages in Baringo South, residents are demanding that the raiders be disarmed. Organised raids Illchamus human rights activist Amos Ole Mpaka says the President was misled by some of those who had organised the raids, and said it was a mistake to lock out other interested parties such as churches and community leaders in these peace caravans.

A fortnight ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto held a security meeting at State House Nairobi with political leaders from Turkana, Samburu, Baringo and West Pokot counties.

During the meeting, the leaders pleaded with the State to allow them to traverse the region and promote peaceful coexistence.

Intriguingly, some leaders whose constituencies are not affected by cattle rustling, but who were present at the State House meeting, absconded the peace rallies that began in West Pokot and ended in Maralal, Samburu County.