Baringo Communities Urged to Foster Peace

Tugen and Pokot communities living along volatile border of Baringo North and East Pokot, have been urged to shun cattle rustling and banditry activities that have stalled economic development in the region for many years.
County commissioner Henry Wafula regretted that the retrogressive cultural practices has hindered meaningful development from taking place in the arid and semi-arid area that experiences myriad of problems like recurrent drought and high poverty levels.
The county commissioner made the call Wednesday following persistent attacks staged by raiders from both sides resulting into unnecessary loss of lives and stock theft.
Last week armed bandits suspected to have come from Tiaty ambushed and sprayed bullets on a boda boda rider headed to Yatia from Marigat town carrying a woman and goods killing him on the spot and injuring the passenger.
The following day the Tugen community in a retaliatory attack raided a family at Nginyang area in East Pokot where they shot a man and drove away over 60 goats which are yet to be recovered so far.
The injured man, identified as Tonyiwo Krikmet, is currently recuperating at Baringo county referral hospital, Kabarnet.
On Tuesday night a group of armed bandits raided a homestead at Yatia in Baringo North where they stole 65 goats belonging to a local farmer but security officers responded quickly and pursued the heavily armed bandits where they engaged them in a fierce shoot out for hours.
Area sub county police Commander Fredrick Odinga confirmed the 10pm incident and said after being overpowered the bandits abandoned the animals in a thicket where they were all found Wednesday morning by villagers in company of security personnel.
Mr Wafula said it was unfortunate that a relative peace that had been enjoyed by the warring communities for almost a year now had once again been disrupted by disgruntled elements who detest seeing people living in harmony.
The County Commissioner directed Baringo North sub county security team to use all means within their disposal to recover the 60 goats stolen from Nginyang to avert further skirmishes.
“I am saddened indeed that the vicious attacks had ignited revenge actions and was likely to derail the peaceful co-existence we had managed to cultivate in the past one year. We had also put to an end efforts by cattle rustlers to engage in livestock stealing and that is why they are resorting to ambushes along roads,” he lamented.
Mr Wafula said his county security team in collaboration with peace committees has managed to recover 12 firearms in Tiaty alone.
“I am sounding a warning to those still holding illegal firearms in Baringo North. We are coming for you once the issue of Coronavirus that has slowed down our pursuit subsides. We are not going to give up our mission to retrieve all illegal arms in the hands of civilians. Let it be known,” he affirmed.
He denied allegations by residents and leaders in Baringo North that schoolboys in Tiaty were the ones engaging in the raids.
By Joshua Kibet