The government has enforced surveillance at the Maasai Mau forest and banned any human activities in the water catchment land two days after two bodies were found dumped in the forestland.
Narok South Deputy County Commissioner Felix Kisalu warned any person found entering the forest will be considered as the main suspect of the mysterious deaths and punished accordingly.
“The bodies were dumped about three kilometers deep in the forest land yet we have banned any movement in the forest that is gradually regenerating,” said Kisalu adding that it was dangerous moving in the forestland because the wild animals were slowly returning in the forest.
Two days ago, residents of Masaita area that borders the forest woke up to a rude shock after two bodies of teenage boys who had gone missing were found lying in the deep forest.
“We know that there are few individuals who do not want to see the two communities, Kipsigis and Maasai living together in unity. But they will be shocked as we have deployed enough security personnel in the area and have mentored village elders who teach the young boys to keep off from war,” said Kisalu.
The DCC said the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating the matter vowing to follow up the matter until those involved in the murder are unveiled.
He spoke on Wednesday during a workshop organised by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) led by Commissioner Dorcas Kadogo held at Narok South Technical Institute.
Ms Kadogo lauded the youths for keeping calm despite the mysterious deaths asking the two communities to embrace peace as fighting one another do not have any benefits.
She called on the youths to stop being used by politicians to trigger war but asked them to remain at home to help their parents during this season when the schools are closed because of Covid-19 pandemic.
“Young men should be very resourceful to their parents during this season in helping them in farming while girls should help their mothers instead of engaging in unproductive activities that could easily ruin their future,” said Ms Kadogo.
Ololulunga ward Member of County Assembly Jefferson Langat said they are mentoring elders in the villages who will in turn mentor the young men against engaging in war.
“We want our people to know that engaging in war doesn’t bring anything on the table. It only brings tension among our people,” said Langat.
A month ago, the area that borders the forest experienced skirmishes that led to the killings of eight people and dozens of others left nursing injuries.
Following the tension, NCIC mounted a month-long interaction with the locals to try and mentor them on how to coexist peacefully.
The commission also held workshops with youth, women and village elders to try and resolve the differences between the two communities that have ran for decades.
The Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya also visited the area and ordered for a mopping up of all illegal arms in the hands of residents.
Thousands of arrows, bows and hundreds of spears were recovered during the two week mop up exercise.
By Ann Salaton
