One person killed a week after CS Kindiki’s visit in Kerio valley
A week after, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki visited the volatile Kerio Valley region, attacks and killings continue to be reported in the region.
On Sunday one person was gunned down by suspected bandits from Elgeyo Marakwet County at Loitot village, Cheptulel area in West Pokot County.
The deceased, Peter Riworeng Kamarkrch aged 23 was irrigating crops in his farm before he was ambushed and killed.
Tension remains high along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet border.
Pokot Central Sub County Police commandant Nelson Omwenga who confirmed the incident said the reasons for the killings have not been established as the bandits did not steal any livestock.
Leaders from West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties who have condemned the incident now say lack of unity among elected leaders was the main contributor to insecurity in the region.
West Pokot senator Julius Murgor and West Pokot Deputy Governor Robert Komolle who spoke at Lelan area said that banditry and cattle rustling activities must come to an end.
“Let’s talk to our children and we want elders to take responsibility for advising youth to shun engaging in vices,” said Murgor.
Murgor noted that criminals are few and they should be arrested and put behind bars.
“We need vehicles for security officers in North and Central Pokot Sub Counties. We need motorbikes for chiefs in North Pokot where there are no roads,” he said.
He called for compensation of victims affected by insecurity in the region.
Komolle called on residents not to retaliate.
“We are not happy about the attacks because it is a circle,” he said.
He called on the Government to open security roads in the area.
“We want Kamelei to Chesegon Road to be opened to help security officers respond to incidents,” said Komolle.
He said that the Government will open security roads in the region to ease transportation and remove bandits hiding in bushes.
“We want peace and nothing else,” said Murkomen.
Sekerr ward member of County assembly Jane Mengich called on the Government to mob up all illegal guns to avert killings.
“We are killed every two weeks,” said Mengich.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said there is a need to open up the region by opening up security roads for accessibility of security officers and peace actors in the region.
“We need to flush out bandits. We must start by taking children to school and shun recruiting one who is holding guns. When Kindiki is dealing with insecurity I will deal with peace,” he said.
He called for unity among leaders from warring communities citing that he will soon convene a meeting to solve insecurity issues.
“We need to come together as leaders from West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Turkana and Samburu. We need to set up schools,” he said.
He said that they need to come up with long strategies to combat insecurity and propose them to the Government and various departments.
“We must start with refusing supply of guns,” he said.
During his visit to West Pokot last week, Prof Kindiki put out on notice bandits, politicians politicizing security matters and inciters threatening security in the North Rift region that will be arrested and face the full arm of the law.
Kindiki also asked those owning illegal firearms to surrender before the government forcefully disarmed them.