Samburu University Students Association (SUSA) members yesterday held peaceful demonstrations in Maralal town protesting the killing of innocent people in Baragoi.
The students and local leaders marched through the streets of Maralal town chanting ‘Baragoi lives matter’ slogans as they made way to the Samburu county Commissioner’s office to present a petition.
However, police thwarted their efforts to enter the county commissioner’s compound by lobbying teargas canisters thus dispersing them. Four demonstrators were arrested and are being held at Maralal police station.
While addressing the press, SUSA chairman Jacob Lemeteki said that police are doing little to manage the rampant insecurity in Samburu north.
He said that innocent people are being shot by criminals using illegal guns. “Killing of innocent people and cattle rustling is no longer a cultural activity, it is a criminal offense and should be dealt with as per the law,” he said.
Lemeteki said that four people have been killed in Baragoi in the last one week and nobody has been arrested for the crime.
After the demonstrations, Samburu county police commander Samson Ogello said that the police are already investigating the killings in Baragoi town adding that they are perpetrated by a few criminal elements.
The police boss said that residents are not providing useful information to help arrest the culprits.
“Nobody is willing to give police useful information to help solve the murders. I am appealing to the public to give us information which will also help find a lasting solution to the insecurity,” he said.
He added that police have recovered and returned numerous livestock stolen in different parts of Samburu north.
By Robert Githu
