Three MPs oppose KDF deployment in Samburu County

Three MPs from Turkana County on Thursday criticised the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel in Suguta, Samburu County warning that it was illegal and likely to disrupt the planned voter registration expected to start next Monday. Read (House team faults Samburu military deployment)

Labour Minister John Munyes, Wildlife Assistant Minister Josephat Nanok and Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro claimed that residents were fleeing the area over fears that the military had been deployed to intimidate and harm them.

They said President Kibaki’s decision to order military deployment following the killing of over 40 officers in the area was done without approval of the National Assembly as required by the Constitution.

The government’s decision came as a reaction to the killings of over 40 policemen who were on an operation to recover stolen animals from Turkana raiders.

“We believe the President was ill advised by his close security aides and they must step aside and be investigated,” said Mr Nanok.

Mr Nanok said that hundreds of locals were fleeing the area ahead of the planned voter registration exercise.

“This is an election year and it is sad that the operation has been ordered ahead of the voter registration exercise,” said Mr Nanok who is also the Turkana South MP.

The MPs who were addressing a press conference at parliament buildings accused the Office of the President of being manipulated by a politician from the region whom they sat enjoys support from top government officials.

“The deployment of the military amounts to an overthrow of the Constitution and we will take legal action,” said Mr Ethuro.

The MPs also accused the government of having underrated previous attacks on Turkana by both local and foreign bandits.

Mr Munyes said that discriminatory operations in the area could worsen the situation in the banditry prone area.

“We do not want Turkana’s to be treated like second class citizens. Raiders from other countries have been roaming the area. I have just lost my livestock and the government has done nothing about it. This is unfair,” Mr Munyes said.