The Government is in the process of establishing a third Sub-county from the vast Tiaty Constituency in a bid to bring services closer to the people and curb the deep rooted banditry and cattle rustling menace, Baringo County Commissioner, Abdirisack Jaldesa, has said.
Speaking at Chemolingot, Wednesday, after chairing a meeting to review boundaries, Jaldesa stated that plans were at an advanced stage to establish the administrative unit to be called Tiaty Central, so that residents can feel the presence of government within their proximity.
He urged leaders from the area to assist in stamping out the insecurity menace that has given the region a bad name by aggressively educating the community on the need to shun such a retrogressive culture in order to fast-track the process.
“We first need to minimize issues of insecurity because we will be going back to the spaces which currently exist,” said Jaldesa.
The County Commissioner stated that the new unit will aid in the transformation of the area which has remained inaccessible due to the nature of terrain and its large land mass.
Area Member of Parliament (MP), William Kamket, lauded the decision, noting that apart from boosting security, it will benefit residents through creation of basic infrastructure such as roads, schools, health facilities and other social amenities which the pastoralist community has never enjoyed since independence.
The Legislator noted that the administrative units will ease the work of administrators in the two Sub-counties of Tiaty West and East, since they have been challenged in accessing some far-flung areas bordering the five counties of Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu and Laikipia.
Former Silale Member of the County Assembly (MCA), Nelson Lotela, pointed out that response and administrative services has been a challenge in the region since residents were supposed to travel more than 100 kilometres to County Headquarters in Kabarnet in order to access government services.
He noted that establishment of more administrative units especially at the grassroots will serve them a great deal since it will not only cut down transportation expenses but promote good governance.
The pastoralist inhabited constituency which covers 4516.8 square kilometres of the total county’s area of 11,015 square kilometres has for a long time failed to attract resources due to the outdated culture of banditry and cattle rustling resulting in poor performance in schools, infrastructure development and absence of basic government services.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
