A section of leaders in Turkana County have condemned the killing of innocent members of the community in what has been termed as intra community conflicts.
The leaders among them Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, Speaker of the County Assembly Christopher Nakuleu and county commissioner Julius Kavita have called for an immediate stop to the killings.
Some people have been reported dead and their livestock stolen within the county in an intra community conflict pitting criminals from Turkana south and Loima sub counties.
“It is wrong and unacceptable for any person to kill his kinsman. Those perpetuating these crimes must stop, they seem to be operating under a curse and we ask members of the clergy to join us and help end these crimes,’ Kavita said on Thursday during the launch of a 3 kilometer tarmac road in Lodwar.
He blamed illiteracy for the banditry acts in the county saying no educated person would stay in the bush for days and nights waiting to steal livestock from his neighbours.
“I urge all of us to take advantage of the funds that we are allocated in terms of bursaries to pursue education,” he said.
Speaker Nakuleu on his part called on the law enforcement agencies to bring to book the persons behind the recent spate of crime in Turkana south and Loima sub counties.
He said it was a new phenomenon where the members of the Turkana community were raiding each other and even causing deaths.
“This is totally unacceptable and as leaders we need to come together and help end these crimes,’ he said.
Last week, three suspected bandits were killed in a police shootout at Kangalita in Kalemnyang.
The three; Simon Egielan Lopongorei, 37, a notorious bandit and gang leader, Lokucha Ngeruk a.k.a sharpshooter, 39 and Tiya Logumo aged, 21 had been accused of laying an ambush on Lorugum OCS on December 28,2023 occasioning him actual bodily harm.
At the same time, the county commissioner said the government would soon review the curfew in Turkana south sub county.
He said Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki would degazette the curfew but urged locals to be peace-abiding.
The government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in parts of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana, and West Pokot counties in response to prevailing elevated levels of banditry.
Meanwhile, a row is simmering among senior county politicians over the location of Aroo sub county headquarters.
Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai and leader of minority Samwel Lomodo are among those championing for Kainuk to be the sub county headquarters of a new sub county which is yet to be gazetted.
On the other hand is Turkana South MP Namoit Ariko is opposed to Kainuk as the new headquarters.
Speaker of the County Assembly Nakuleu said other leaders would be forced to intervene and ensure the residents of the county do not lose out on the new sub county.
Governor Lomorukai said himself, Speaker Nakuleu and Senator James Lomenen were those who asked for additional sub counties from the national government and had good reasons for settling on Kainuk.
He said Kainuk had better infrastructure and could help in responding to banditry attacks than any other areas.
By Peter Gitonga
