Insecurity and KDF drive cripple trade in Turkana and Baringo

Businesses continue to bear the brunt of insecurity in Baringo and Turkana counties despite the presence of security officers.

The situation has been worsened by the ongoing Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) led operation to seize illegal firearms in the area.

The operation started after the killing of 19 Administration Police (AP) officers and three civilians in November last year at Kasarani area, a few kilometres from Kapedo.

Many commuters and motorists are avoiding roads connecting the two counties as the no-nonsense soldiers erected road blocks in several areas to arrest herders in possession of illegal firearms.

The lucrative livestock sector, which is the economic mainstay of the two counties, is the most affected as livestock traders have shunned the area after armed bandits started targeting motorists and traders.

MARKETS CLOSED

Businesspeople who spoke to the Nation are a disillusioned lot and are calling on the government to beef up security in the volatile area.

“Our economy is completely been ruined. Traders who used to bring us supplies from Nakuru to stock our shops no longer come here. They are fearing for their lives, forcing small traders to close shops as they have no capacity to go for goods,” said Mr Paul Lutodo, a businessman at Chemolingot.

The traders who complained of harassment from the security personnel involved in the operation claimed that their shops have been set ablaze at Chesitet, Naudo, Riong’o and Ameyan areas forcing residents from Silale and Akwijatis to walk to far flung areas like Kollowa and Nginyang.

The closure of Ameyan Livestock Market has also dealt a big blow to the traders who are now relying on Nginyang’ Livestock Market.

The aggrieved traders said that unscrupulous livestock traders were now taking advantage of the situation to exploit them by buying their animals at throw away prices. A cow that used to sell at between Sh15,000 and Sh20,000 in October last year now fetches between a paltry Sh5,000 and Sh7,000.

PITCHED CAMP

The army has pitched camp at Chesitet and Kapedo areas with their equipment including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and lorries.

Pressure has been mounting from Pokot leaders and elders for the disarmament exercise to be suspended. They are arguing that residents are cooperating with the government by voluntarily surrendering 24 guns that were stolen from the slain officers.

“We are pleading with President Kenyatta to withdraw the soldiers and leave it to the elders to reach out to the youth. The operation should not look as if it is aimed at ruining our economy,” said Kositei Location Chief Joshua Akeno, whose Poshomill was allegedly set ablaze by the soldiers.

KDF has however denied harassing innocent civilians and torching their houses despite the persistent complains.

In a statement, KDF denied causing any damage in the region, saying that its soldiers had already left the area before the alleged harassment occurred.

A recent leaders’ peace meeting at Amaya in Taity sub-county, which was also attended by Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Osman Warfa, resolved that stringent measures to end the perennial conflict should be taken. In the resolutions dabbed “Reforms in Coordination Of Security,” the leaders resolved to be at the forefront of preaching peaceful co-existence between their people engaged in bloody conflicts.

COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP

“There’s need to enhance cooperation and partnership between the national and county governments in the management of security in the region. The management of Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs) also needs to be reviewed to streamline their recruitment, training and command,” reads part of the two page resolutions.

The national government was also asked to fight insecurity along highways to stop rampant attacks on motorists.

According to the leaders’ resolutions, the Ministry of Interior has also been asked to conduct research on cattle rustling to unravel the factors fuelling the banditry economy.

The meeting also resolved that the national and county governments should drill more boreholes in pastoralist areas to avoid the scramble for limited resources especially during the dry spell, which has been fuelling the conflict.

“The government should also invest in descent housing, provision of water, transport and other necessary facilities and equipment,”read the leaders’ resolutions.