Baringo County Commissioner Henry Wafula has asked local elected leaders, clergy and professionals to move to Tiaty Constituency and mount series of public meetings to implore on residents to stop cattle rustling and banditry activities and promote peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness.
The County Commissioner regretted that the government was using a lot of resources in the fight against the retrogressive cultural practice which would be channeled to development of the region that for decades has lagged behind in all spheres of socio-economic aspects.
Briefing KNA on the security situation in lower parts of Marigat Sub County following Thursday afternoon banditry attacks at Kiserian where two people died and 67 animals were stolen, Mr Wafula condemned the persistent raids by the armed criminals on innocent citizens.
The Commissioner warned the armed criminals that the county security team under his leadership will not tire pursuing them. “Let me warn these criminals using firearms to kill people, steal animals and displace their neighbours that their days are numbered. We will not allow a few disgruntled elements to frustrate the government the way they have done for many years,” he reiterated.
Mr Wafula said it was absurd for the criminal elements comprising young boys to use guns to kill, maim, injure and steal animals from their neighbours arbitrarily instead of engaging in productive activities like going to school.
“I urge elected leaders in the entire county to move to Tiaty and help Kamket. Things are bad there because children are not going to school but instead engage in retrogressive activities,” he implored.
During yesterday afternoon attack, a 70-year-old man and a boy aged 10 were killed and sixty-seven animals driven away towards Tiaty East Sub County.
And on Friday Morning, the County Commissioner said 37 of the animals have been recovered by a contingent of security personnel in hot pursuit of the bandits who take advantage of the bad geographical terrain to escape.
At a press briefing last week on the state of insecurity in the area, Wafula revealed that they have managed to recover over 70 guns in Tiaty Constituency in the ongoing operation to flush out bandits who have continued to destabilize peace and stability in parts of Baringo North and Marigat Sub Counties.
By Joshua Kibet
