Campaign to rid region of firearms after deadly attacks

An operation has been launched to disarm villagers in Kapedo following the killing on Saturday of five people, including three police officers.

The raiders made away with uniforms and firearms belonging to the three General Service Unit officers.

Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo toured the area on Sunday and ordered a massive disarmament drive to curb the perennial bloody conflicts.

This comes as reports indicated that two more bodies were found in a thicket Monday.

Learning at Kapedo Secondary School was paralysed after women and children sought refuge.

Mr Kimaiyo, who held a peace meeting with security officers, said the police would be justified to use force, including shooting the armed bandits wreaking havoc in the pastoralist areas such as Baringo, Laikipia and Turkana.

“We will not sit and watch as a few criminal elements terrorise our people,” said Mr Kimaiyo.

OFFICERS ATTACKED
The police boss ordered two members of the county assembly from Tiaty sub-county to record statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation over remarks they made during Mashujaa Day celebrations as they are believed to have sparked the Saturday attack.

A vehicle escorting a police lorry was set ablaze during the 2.45pm incident at Ameyan in Turkana East sub-county.

This came barely a week after eight officers were attacked in the area and their vehicle carrying Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination papers set ablaze.

Elsewhere, leaders from Baringo South, where six people were killed at the weekend, criticised the police over failure to beef up security in the region despite rampant cases of deadly raids since 2005.

CATTLE RUSTLING
Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim said it is sad that innocent people continue to lose their lives at the hands of the bandits.

“The police must stop the menace with immediate effect. This is no longer a cattle rustling issue. The Pokot want to expand their territory. Every time I visit my constituents, we bury people killed by the bandits. This deprives us of the chance to discuss development issues,” she said.

She cited women and children as being the worst affected by the insecurity.

Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi recently convened a leaders’ meeting at Emining’ Hotel in a bid to find a lasting solution to cattle rustling.

“We have resolved that the national government should roll out a massive disarmament drive,” said Mr Cheboi.