A section of Members of County Assembly (MCAs) from banditry-prone areas in Baringo have urged President Dr William Ruto to take charge of the ongoing security operation in North Rift.
Speaking during a presser at the County Assembly Grounds in Kabarnet Town on Friday, the leaders from Mochongoi, Saimo Soi, Mukutani and Bartabwa Wards noted that residents for long have borne the brunt of banditry which has gone on unabated.
Mochongoi MCA Kipruto Kimosop who is the Deputy Speaker requested the President to personally visit the affected areas and give fresh orders saying the situation is getting out of hand despite heavy presence of Kenya Defence Forces and police.
“We are pleading with you, our President, to come down and listen to us and secure our region from wanton theft, robbery and terrorism which has resulted in deaths, injuries and massive displacement,” he said.
Kimosop recommended the National Security Council to take a petition to Parliament for the military to be approved to run the operation noting that there is improper coordination between them and the police which has culminated in slow response to attacks, a fact he attributed to confusion and supremacy battle in the operation.
Saimo Soi ward MCA Michael Chebon said the President has the capacity to end the vice once and for all since his words will be taken seriously.
Chebon expressed despair over the insecurity menace in the region that has left behind so many widows and widowers besides causing depression to residents whom he said are no longer feeling safe in their homes.
“All we need is urgent solutions because we have been yearning for peace for a long time,” said the first term MCA.
Deeply saddened Mukutani Ward MCA Paul Lolgisoi lamented that they are burying people every week yet the armed bandits are walking scot free.
“It is painful since every weekend we are burying people killed by bandits, for example in my ward we have already buried more than 100 people,” he claimed.
Bartabwa MCA David Sitoi who read the press statement on behalf of the four MCAs called for training and immediate deployment of more National Police Reservists in the affected areas to support other security personnel in order to secure the lives of residents and learners.
Sitoi also called for humanitarian support from well-wishers and government agencies saying if the security situation does not improve they are considering advising parents to withdraw their children from highly prone primary schools like Kapindasum, Embosos, Nousukuro, Kasiela, Chemoe, Tuluk, Chepkew, Chepkesin, Ngaratuko, Kagir and Yatya.
By Benson Kelio
