The government has assured residents of Ngaremara Ward, Isiolo County, of adequate security following a demonstration yesterday protesting the killing of a herder by raiders from a neighbouring County.
Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Andrew Mutua said that the government has beefed up security in the area and added that frequent police patrols would be maintained in the area until total calm resumes.
Mr. Mutua however urged the residents to practice restraint and give the security personnel an opportunity to pursue the matter and ensure they bring the culprits to book.
He also appealed to Wananchi to expose the crime suspects in an effort to help the government in dealing with them, saying some of them were well known and should not be allowed to continue harassing innocent people.
The administrative officer said that the government would soon carry out an operation to disarm herders who possess illegal firearms and called upon them to surrender the weapon before they are rounded up.
He said security is a collective responsibility that everyone should take part in by collaborating with the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ elders, police and the national government administrative officers with a view to eradicating crime in the area.
“The residents have the responsibility to provide information to the authorities about insecurity trends instead of blaming the government when the situation gets bad,” Mr. Mutua said.
Scores of Ngaremara residents demonstrated in Isiolo town Wednesday following the killing of a 22-year-old herder by armed bandits in an incident in which five other herdsmen were seriously injured at Haredida grazing area in Gotu location.
The Deputy County Commissioner and Burat Ward Representative Mr. Yarrow Hassan said that the assailants are suspected to have killed a preacher from the area the previous day and three other herders injured.
Mr. Hassan said that 14 people have been killed in Gotu location since June this year and over 2,000 goats and sheep stolen.
He added that over 300 camels and 500 head of cattle stolen by the morans are still at large despite the names of suspects being given to the authority by local chiefs.
The MCA said that the Morans are using sophisticated firearms like M16 and taking advantage of local people who surrendered firearms to the Government.
By Abduba Mamo and David Nduro
