Security boosted after 20 killed in ethnic strife

More police officers will be sent to West Pokot and Turkana to contain clashes in the counties.

This comes after more than 20 lives were lost and hundreds of families displaced in clashes between the Turkana and Pokot pastoral communities.

Senior officers from the police headquarters in Nairobi yesterday toured Kainuk on the West Pokot-Turkana border and disclosed plans to beef up the security team in the volatile region.

VOLATILE REGION

“More Administration Police officers will be deployed in the region.

The government will train police reservists, who will help increase patrols in the area,” Planning and Development Director Silas MacOpiyo said.

The team that visited Kainuk was led by Mr MacOpiyo and Rift Valley regional police commandant Joel Kitili.

They said officers in the volatile region will be provided with better equipment to deal with cattle rustlers and bandits.

Mr Kitili said the region will be equipped with more police vehicles to ensure immediate response to crimes.

The officers disclosed the measures when they handed over 16 police housing units built by Manyota Company a year ago.

“Provision of quality houses will motivate police officers to step up the war on crime,” Mr MacOpiyo said.

Area police boss Kipsang Changach said the tension in the area had eased due to increased patrols and aerial surveillance.

At the same time, West Pokot county commissioner Peter Okwanyo assured residents on the border with Turkana of security in the area.

“The situation has now returned to normal.

Residents should stop being suspicious of attacks since there are security personnel deployed in the area to curb insecurity,” he said.

The government was taking action on the border dispute, Mr Okwanyo said.