Residents cry out for peace as raids defy State interventions

Residents fleeing Kapkosum village in Mochongoi after armed bandits attacked the village. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] For months and years, many North Rift residents have not known peace. Sounds of gunshots and wailing residents are the norm as insecurity cripples operations, with the government spending billions of shillings in an effort to curb cattle rustling. It has been the grim picture in parts of Laikipia, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, and Turkana Counties affected by insecurity. In September 2022, bandits killed 11 people, including eight police officers and a chief in Namariat village, Turkana County. Following the killings, the National Police Service (NPS) issued a statement on a multi-agency operation deployed to arrest the perpetrators, recover the stolen animals and firearms and return the area to normalcy. "Such acts of criminality and impunity shall not be tolerated and must be brought to an end at all cost. As such, bandits terrorising innocent people have been put on notice," said Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso. NPS appealed to the public to cooperate with police in their effort to return security to the area by volunteering information that may lead to the arrest of criminals and recovery of the stolen animals. President William Ruto, in a tweet, directed security agencies to deal firmly with the bandits. "After receiving a comprehensive report on the Turkana/Pokot incident that led to 10 security/administration officers losing their lives, I have instructed security agencies to deal firmly, decisively, and conclusively with those involved. Cattle rustling will stop na sio tafadhali," said Ruto. The Kenya Kwanza government promised during the campaigns last year that it would deal with the issue to unlock the untapped potential of affected areas. Locals are hopeful the government will address the issue. No place to hide Over the weekend, hours after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had finished his tour of the North Rift region with a warning to bandits that they have no place to hide in Kenya, three police officers were shot dead by suspected bandits along the Lodwar-Kitale highway. Kindiki toured the area engaging local leaders and senior security personnel in an effort to find a lasting solution. Ruto has since ordered Kindiki to camp in the area till insecurity is tamed, with questions emerging as two whether the Kenya Kwanza government will succeed in cracking the hard nut. Mr Richard Koeach, a resident of Baringo South and a victim of the insecurity, said they are waiting for the government to fulfil the promise it made during campaigns. He said other regimes failed to tame insecurity despite heavy police deployment. Baringo Civil Society Forum chairman Isaiah Biwott said the government should fight banditry to unlock the potential of the rich counties of the North Rift. "Ending insecurity will not be a walk in the park. Some security officers sponsor banditry and engage in selling weapons to the locals. This government may not end insecurity anytime soon," Biwott said of the region blessed with minerals such as ruby, geothermal, and farming. He said resources, including police vehicles, were being used for other purposes. A police vehicle in Baringo North was recently spotted ferrying construction materials. Biwott claimed some top officials in the security sector were protecting rogue officers in the area. The North Rift region is endowed with numerous minerals, and culture and is rich agriculturally. The over-a-decade-long conflict has drowned Kapedo's unmatched beauty. Kapedo in itself is a charming village surrounded by beautiful scenery. Hot spring The village is located between two rivers, Suguta River originating from the East of the centre and the Kapedo River flowing from the West. Mount Silale to the East and Tiaty Hills to the West also surround the centre. Suguta River flows from a hot spring just within the centre. To add to its beauty is a hot waterfall that locals and visitors would visit to enjoy a hot or lukewarm swim, depending on one's preference. In the nearby Silale hills, in Tiaty, Geothermal Development Company is undertaking geothermal exploration. The Baringo-Silali Geothermal Project, according to GDC, has an estimated geothermal potential of 3,000MW. In parts of Baringo South, where insecurity has been rampant, traces of ruby, a precious gem, have been found. In November 2012, a London-based miner, Red Rock Resources, got the go-ahead to prospect ruby. It was approved, but the company left due to insecurity. Fruit farming along the Kerio Valley also does well, and oil deposits have been discovered. In some areas, police officers have to accompany locals to their farms to harvest their fruits. Severally, the government has issued ultimatums to illegal firearm holders with threats of forceful disarmament that have never borne fruit. It is because the bandits have for years defied the order, with few or at times, no firearms handed over to the government. In June 2013, after taking over the Interior ministry docket, Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku directed the resumption of the disarmament exercise in warring pastoralist communities to recover illegal arms. The tough-talking Lenku gave bandits a two-week ultimatum to surrender 48 firearms stolen during the Suguta valley massacre or suffer forceful disarmament. In November 2014, the massacre of 21 police officers at Kapedo in Baringo County sparked debate over disarmament decrees issued by top security agents not followed through. Then President UHuru Kenyatta visited the area and ordered the return of the rifles stolen from the slain officers within 24 hours. He also ordered operations conducted in the area. In June 2015, then Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo issued a shoot-to-kill order against bandits, arsonists, cattle rustlers and those illegally in possession of firearms after retired Loruk chief Wilson Chebungei was shot by bandits and businesses razed.

Residents cry out for peace as raids defy State interventions

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

Residents cry out for peace as raids defy State interventions

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Stand With Bold Journalism. Stand With The Standard.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.