Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Maalim Mohamed has met security agencies from Laikipia County, where he pledged the government’s commitment to ensure that peace prevails in the region.
The RC observed that through engagements with local communities and government agencies, issues of insecurity that have continued to be experienced in the area will easily be tackled once and for all.
He spoke in Rumuruti town after meeting security teams from Laikipia West, where he cited some of the challenges bedeviling the area, but assured that the government was firm and ready to address the matter.
Maalim at the same time claimed that it is not yet clear why National Police Reservists (NPRs) from Laikipia West have continued to stay in camps yet they are supposed to live with the communities they serve.
“The NPRs are supposed to be community-based and they are not supposed to be in camps. We have discussed with my team here and we have made a resolution that they will now be community-based in areas of Ol Ng’arua where the banditry menace from Laikipia Nature Conservancy have been rampant,” said Maalim.
He said a matter of concern was how the bandits got their fire-power that has on numerous occasions seen police officers overwhelmed when tackling them.
However, he added that concerted efforts have been put into place to dig up a 23 km trench as a buffer zone between the Laikipia Nature Conservancy (LNC) and the neighbouring communities, saying this is meant to deter stolen livestock from finding their way into the troubled ranch.
Maalim at the same time has called on leaders from Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet areas to initiate peace-building activities and stabilize the ground.
The region has experienced incessant killings and banditry attacks in which about 50 people have been shot dead and hundreds of livestock stolen in the vast region covering Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot and Baringo counties, in the last five months.
On Sunday, two people were shot dead by cattle rustlers who attacked Koitilial, Arror ward before driving away 600 heads of cattle.
During the attack, seven people sustained injuries with two in critical condition at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital while two are admitted at Iten county hospital.
The heavily armed bandits attacked Koitialal village killing two people on the spot injuring seven at a nearby Kapkamak irrigation scheme.
However, the RC put on notice politicians intending to issue inflammatory remarks as the countdown to August General Election begins.
By Antony Mwangi
