Narok North Deputy County Commissioner, Mutuku Mwenga, has called on people living near Lockman Forest, at the border of Narok and Nakuru Counties, to maintain peace, following the killing of a middle-aged man in the forestland.
The call follows heightened tension that has been witnessed in the border area, where young men were seen, holding demonstrations and threatening to cause skirmishes after the death of the young man.
The DCC said already investigations have been launched, to ascertain the death of the young man, who is suspected to be a logger in the forest.
“I call upon the members of the public not to cause tension by screaming or holding demonstrations. I request them to keep calm, as we investigate what killed the young man,” said Mwenga.
He spoke in his office where he called on the members of the public, to avoid felling trees in the forest, saying those caught trespassing in the forest land without a legal permit from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), will face the law.
The border area has in the past experienced on and off skirmishes, that turned bloody forcing the government to heighten security in the area.
Last month, top officials from Narok and Nakuru County led by Narok Governor, Samuel Tunai, Nakuru Deputy Governor Dr Eric Korir, Narok County Commissioner, Evans Achoki and his Nakuru Counterpart, Erastus Mbui, held a daylong meeting at Likia area, where they asked members of the public to maintain peace.
The meeting followed the killing of two young men aged 13 and 14 years old, who were grazing in the forestland.
The leaders promised to work with the village elders, whom they said will identify the issue arising from the members of the public and help in resolving them.
They called on the elders to engage the youth frequently in a bid to try to understand the challenges they were facing, as they are the main culprits in times of war.
By Ann Salaton
