Baringo County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa has asked victims of banditry attacks to return back to their homes assuring that the government has restored security and provided adequate police officers.
Speaking during this year’s Mashujaa day celebrations held at National Museums Grounds in Kabarnet, Jaldesa said the security situation has been beefed up in the volatile regions and residents should not fear to settle on their ancestral lands and continue with their normal activities.
He said enough security personnel have been deployed in the volatile areas to provide vigilance and keep off criminals who might want to continue causing instability.
“My office will team up with that of the governor to help correct the situation since some of the houses were destroyed during the process, boreholes vandalized, beehives and other critical infrastructure damaged by criminals,” he said.
Jaldesa noted that the region has remained relatively calm for the past four months except along the common borders but the security agencies are zeroing on a few well known individuals who are interfering with peace amongst Turkana, Marakwet and Samburu communities.
He revealed that for the next two months, the government will embark on a serious crackdown on illegal firearms for sanity to be restored and communities to enjoy peace and tranquility.
“We will look for ways of developing the region especially Tiaty Sub County where we intend to open many security roads and drill more boreholes with the help of development partners like NDMA in order to minimize intercommunity conflicts,” he said.
Jaldesa also warned the criminal in the expansive region staging attacks, killing innocent people and stealing livestock to immediately surrender the weapons as the government would not rest until they were neutralized.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi in his remarks said his administration will promote peace initiatives that are geared towards ensuring lasting peace amongst all communities in the county.
Cheboi said that such volatile areas have a huge economic potential hence they will try to change the mindset of the people in order for them to shun retrogressive practices like banditry and cattle rustling and focus on activities that can put money on the table.
The county boss stated that he will engage with the elders and members of the community to see to it that all their concerns are amicably solved without vengeance on the next community.
Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap who attended the occasion called on the government to gazette the area as a disturbed zone so that thorough operation can be conducted to flush out all armed criminals.
Makilap said for decades the criminals have killed so many people, destroyed and stolen properties of innocent people and should not be tolerated. “We want to move from stock theft to stock exchange and we don’t have time for criminals who want to take us backwards,” he said.
In the celebration also attended by Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie, the Baringo North legislator said his happiness is to see all residents especially those who have borne the heavy brunt of insecurity prosper in whatever they were doing.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
