Baringo conflict leaves hundreds homeless

The drought ravaging many parts of Baringo County is now sparking conflicts between pastoralists in the area.

Two people were killed last week at Sirata in the cattle rustling-prone Mukutani Division of Baringo South Sub-County after Pokot and Tugen communities clashed.

The conflict between the two communities has been sparked off after hundreds of Pokot herders invaded Mukutani in search of water and pasture for their livestock, a fact which has not gone down well with members of the Ilchamus community who seized some of the livestock belonging to the Pokot.

The killings have sparked tension in the area with thousands of residents fleeing their homes.

The residents have taken refuge in various schools with claims that the raiders are plotting to strike back after their efforts to steal livestock last week were thwarted following a fierce shoot-out with security personnel.

When the Nation toured Sokotei Primary School last week where more than 3,000 residents are camping, we witnessed a sorry sight of women and children sleeping on the floor.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

A humanitarian crisis is now looming in the area with all the toilets at the schools almost full with families forced to share classrooms, staffrooms and dormitories.

Some have to sleep under beds and the whole situation has sparked fears of an outbreak of water-borne diseases.

“We have been abandoned and we are left wondering if we are any lesser Kenyan. Young children are the worst hit as they are beginning to contract flu due to the biting cold and overcrowding. Mosquitoes are having a field day on expectant women and children at night,” Ms Mary Salacha one of the victims said while fighting back tears.

At the schools, the residents are not assured of their security and they fear that the raiders may strike again and torch school. The armed raiders set ablaze 17 houses in Sirata last week.

According to a senior teacher at Sokotei Day Secondary School, Ezra Tiren, they have been forced to close down the school to pave way for the residents who have converted it into an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp.

“These people are living at the mercy of God. I’ve been making sure that they get safe drinking water but they have no food. There’s a self-imposed curfew from 5pm to early 7am,” Mr Tiren told the Nation.

SCHOOLS CLOSED

Apart from Sokotei Primary and Secondary Schools, other schools which have been closed down following the crisis include Loitip, Lorok, Kiserian, Mukutani, Rugus and Noosukro.

The situation has been aggravated by another incident earlier in the week where members of the Pokot community set ablaze eight houses and two shops allegedly after being sidelined in the distribution of relief food by a humanitarian organisation.

The conflict started after Red Cross personnel in conjunction with the government distributed relief food to Ilchamus families who were recently displaced after their homes were set ablaze by armed raiders, something which did not go down well with the Pokot.

Baringo South Sub-County Commissioner Saul Moywaywa toured the area in the company of Baringo police boss Hassan Barua and the county security team and held a crisis meeting with the residents who were beginning to flee the volatile area fearing for their lives.

“The food was meant for victims of insecurity but members of the Pokot community felt side-lined leading to the burning of the houses. We are however working on modalities to ensure that the relief food benefits all the groups,” said Mr Moywaywa, adding that calm had been restored in the area.

He admitted that following the prolonged dry spell, herders have adversely been affected and urged them to co-exist peacefully and share the limited resources of pasture and water until the situation improves.

Mr Moywaywa warned politicians and activists in the area whom he said were inciting the herders to turn on each other for selfish political interests.

The Nation witnessed residents fleeing the volatile area with their belongings vowing never to go back until they are assured of their security.

Women could be seen clutching onto their young children with smoke still billowing from some of the torched houses.

Posed pastor Shamal Seure, a resident wondered, “How can we stay in an area where we are uncertain of what will befall us next? If we can be attacked just 50 metres from a General Service Unit (GSU) camp, are we any safer?

“What is the use of guns they (police) have if they cannot even fire a single shot?” He added.

INSUFFICIENT SECURITY

The residents complained that the security personnel in the area were insufficient to cope with the high number of raiders whom they say have sophisticated weapons.

During the 11pm incident, the raiders set ablaze the houses including two shops belonging to Mukutani location Chief Benjamin Lechep and his assistant Wilson Oletapi.

The residents wondered what the motive of the attackers was whom they said have started setting ablaze homesteads and killing the elderly and young children.

“These are no longer common raids. It seems the raiders want to instil fear in our people so that they expand their territories,” said Ms Nasaro Kiriambu, a resident.
The two communities have differed where Mukutani boundary should be with each claiming that it falls within their jurisdictions.

According to Red Cross South Rift Programmes Manager Caleb Chemirmir, the organization has in conjunction with the government done its best to address the plight of the affected residents and called on other well-wishers to support their efforts.

“We call on leaders from the warring communities to hold peace meetings in a bid to find lasting peace,” said Mr Chemirmir.

He added that 11 villages had been affected by the flare-ups.

25 HOUSES TORCHED

He said that more than 25 houses had been torched since the conflict started three weeks ago with thousands of people having been rendered homeless.

Amos Olempaka, a human rights activist in the area accused the government of not doing much to beef up security in the area.

“The residents are living in deplorable conditions and we call on humanitarian organisations to come to their aid. The government should also respond through the Ministry of Special Programmes with food and non-food items,” said Mr Olempaka.

The residents have hit out at leaders in Tiaty Sub-County over what they said were fuelling the cattle rustling menace by making inciting remarks.

Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi has promised that his government will help the affected residents re-build their houses which were torched. This, he said will be done as a way of reconciling the warring communities.

Speaking when he toured the volatile area to assess the situation following the killing of the two people, Mr Cheboi said that a series of peace meetings involving elders from the warring communities have already been lined up. He was accompanied by the county security team led by Baringo County Commissioner Benard Leparmarai.

“The children of the two deceased persons will be given bursaries to see them through school. All the people who have over the years been affected by insecurity will also be given food and material support to begin their lives afresh,” said Mr Cheboi.

URGED TO RETURN

Mr Leparmarai urged residents who have fled their homes in the area to go back as saying normalcy had already been restored with the deployment of security personnel who will be permanently stationed in the volatile area.

He said that all the affected schools will also be re-opened and provided with enough security.

A recent voluntary disarmament exercise in the area saw the residents surrender more than 70 illegal firearms.

But security personnel who spoke to the Nation said that this was just a drop in the ocean as many illegal firearms were still in the wrong hands.

The residents complained that the security personnel in the area were insufficient to cope with the high number of raiders whom they say have sophisticated weapons.

During the 11pm incident, the raiders set ablaze the houses including two shops belonging to Mukutani location Chief Benjamin Lechep and his assistant Wilson Oletapi.

The residents wondered what the motive of the attackers was whom they said have started setting ablaze homesteads and killing the elderly and young children.

“These are no longer common raids. It seems the raiders want to instil fear in our people so that they expand their territories,” said Ms Nasaro Kiriambu, a resident.
The two communities have differed where Mukutani boundary should be with each claiming that it falls within their jurisdictions.

According to Red Cross South Rift Programmes Manager Caleb Chemirmir, the organization has in conjunction with the government done its best to address the plight of the affected residents and called on other well-wishers to support their efforts.

PEACE MEETINGS

“We call on leaders from the warring communities to hold peace meetings in a bid to find lasting peace,” said Mr Chemirmir.

He added that 11 villages had been affected by the flare-ups.

He said that more than 25 houses had been torched since the conflict started three weeks ago with thousands of people having been rendered homeless.

Amos Olempaka, a human rights activist in the area accused the government of not doing much to beef up security in the area.

“The residents are living in deplorable conditions and we call on humanitarian organisations to come to their aid. The government should also respond through the Ministry of Special Programmes with food and non-food items,” said Mr Olempaka.

The residents have hit out at leaders in Tiaty Sub-County over what they said were fuelling the cattle rustling menace by making inciting remarks.