Food donation meant for starving residents of Kapedo cannot be delivered to those in need due to the ongoing operation.
Catholic Diocese of Eldoret Bishop Dominic Kimengich said several tones of relief supplies that were donated by the church and non-governmental organizations including the Red Cross were lying in Eldoret because Kapedo is inaccessible.
The relief food supplies cannot be delivered despite the targeted families staring at death for lack of food and water, said Bishop Kimengich.
Churches and humanitarian organizations operating in North Rift region claim they are unable to access the bandit prone zone to deliver the relief food to hundreds of starving families.
“Kapedo is inaccessible due to the massive security operation launched by the government to crack down on armed bandit accused of killings and causing the displacement of various families,” said the clergyman during a press briefing in Eldoret on Friday.
He urged the government to intervene by providing security escort to enable them to dispatch the consignment of food supplies to the displaced families in the volatile area.
“The government should look for criminals and ensure innocent people protected,” said Bishop Kimengich.
He said the government should undertake the operation in a humane manner to avoid harming innocent people who have nothing to do with insecurity that has rocked the volatile region where several lives have been lost including those of security officers and government officers.
He implored upon the government to ensure all illegal firearms are recovered from the bandits saying that the weapons were the cause of the perennial violent attacks against innocent people in the cattle rustling prone Kerio valley for decades.
by Kiptanui Cherono
