Slain General Service Unit Deputy Operations Commander Santulino Tebakol Emadau, 53, was on Saturday laid to rest in an emotional sendoff at Aciit village, Asinge Location, Teso South Sub County.
Leaders, relatives, friends and the Aciit community who paid tribute to the late described him as a generous and a dedicated peacemaker whose death is a big loss to both the Iteso community and the entire country.
The superintendent of police met his death in line of duty where he succumbed to gunshot injuries inflicted by bandits at Ameyen area during an active operation in Kapedo, Baringo County on January 17.
Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, in a condolence message read on his behalf by his deputy Edward Mbugua, described the late Emadau as a dedicated and experienced officer who has left behind a legacy worthy emulating.
In response to an appeal from the family led by the late officer’s wife Sarah Emadau, Mbugua promised to give a chance to one of the fallen officer’s son during the recruitment exercise slated for March this year.
GSU Commandant, Douglas Kanja recounted to mourners how he sent the deceased on January 17, 2021 to Kapedo to broker peace between warring communities where he was brutally murdered by bandits minutes after leaving a peace meeting.
Baringo County Commissioner Henry Wafula ruled out any negotiations with bandits as proposed by politicians saying the government has sent all its machinery to the volatile area to end banditry activities once and for all.
The widow Sarah Emadau said her late husband was an extra-ordinary, remarkably loving and caring man and a pillar of her life that always made her happy and secure.
Political leaders Moses Wetangula (Bungoma Senator), Moses Mulomi (Busia Deputy Governor), legislators Geoffrey Omuse (Teso South ), Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale), Richard Onyonka (Nyaribari Chache), Charles Kamuren (Baringo South) asked the government to urgently end banditry activities which are continuously claiming lives of security officers.
Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi described the late Emadau as dedicated person whose exemplary work saw him rise through the ranks to be a Superintendent of Police.
He said: “Let Emadau’s blood bring peace in all the banditry stricken areas across the country. The cruel hand of death has robbed the county and the country of a hardworking officer whose role of brokering peace in the country will be remembered by many who knew him.”
Wetangula said it is high time the government thought of utilizing other techniques to combat banditry rather the let the country continue losing lives and witness property destruction due to community conflicts.
“The police should not use force in solving conflicts, but to apply diplomacy in brokering peace among warring communities in many parts of the country,” the Ford Kenya party leaders said.
Onyonka reiterated his party leader’s sentiments saying it’s easier to negotiate with your enemy than use force.
He called on the government to use retired security personnel and civil servants to broker peace in volatile areas in the country.
Bunyasi on his part urged the government not to use excessive force to subdue banditry activities in Kapedo but apply minimum force then get to round table talks.
Kamuren who hails from the constituency where Emadau met his death differed with the negotiation proponents saying there is no way anybody can go for round table discussions with persons holding guns.
Activist Okiya Omtatah said there is need to motivate police officers by increasing their salaries and equipment for discharging their duties including provision of insurance cover for the officers and their families.
by Melechezedeck Ejakait
