In Summary
•More than 15 people among them three police officers have been killed since the beginning of the year in Marigat and Baringo north districts.
•Already, Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi is bracing himself for a fierce fight against new trend of commercialised cattle rustling that has hampered security and scaring away investors.
Leaders from Baringo County have called on the central and county governments to help more than 5,000 people who fled their homes following perennial raids to return.
Addressing the Press in Kabarnet Thursday, the leaders who included Baringo County Assembly members Richard Kambala (Saimo-Soi ward), Reuben Chepsongol (Bartabwa) and James Cheptoo (Kabartonjo) said the affected persons were now living in deplorable conditions in shopping centres and were in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
The situation, the leaders said, has adversely affected education in the area with learning in more than 20 schools paralysed after learners fled volatile areas with their parents.
“The situation is bad. As we speak, the armed raiders have begun vandalising school equipment like solar panels and setting others ablaze while others are occupying homes of people who have fled,” said Mr Kambala.
They cited the most affected schools as Chepkessin, Sibilo, Kamwetio, Loruk Chemoe, Kagir, Koroto, Yatia, Ng’aratuko and Kosile primary schools. The raiders set ablaze Kamwetio primary school a month ago.
More than 15 people among them three police officers have been killed since the beginning of the year in Marigat and Baringo north districts.
The leaders feared that hunger will worsen in the area next year as many people were not in a position to plant their farms due to insecurity.
Baringo county commissioner Benard Leparmarai has said that all is set for the government to roll out a disarmament exercise in the area.
Speaking during this year’s Madaraka Day Celebrations at Kabarnet Museum Grounds, Mr Leparmarai said the insecurity hotspots in the area have already been mapped out.
“The first phase will be voluntary disarmament whereby residents will be required to surrender illegal firearms at will. Grassroots leaders including the provincial administration will be involved” said the administrator.
He said the government will have no option but to employ forceful disarmament in the second phase if the residents fail to heed to the amnesty.
“We already have the names of all people suspected to be in possession of illegal firearms and they should cooperate with security personnel in surrendering them and no action will be taken against them,” offered Mr Leparmarai.
Already, Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi is bracing himself for a fierce fight against new trend of commercialised cattle rustling that has hampered security and scaring away investors.
Cartels are funding and organising cattle raids in various villages along West Pokot and Baringo county border where stolen cows and goats are ferried to various slaughterhouses in Mogotio, Nakuru, Nyahururu and Nairobi.
The cartels are believed to be run by powerful people and businessmen from the vast county and the neighbouring Nakuru, Samburu counties who are well connected to the police and provincial administration.
Mr Cheboi noted that although the county is endowed with untapped natural resources that can drive the county to great strides economically the alarming insecurity will greatly affect the development in the region.