Shame as officers hunting bandits go for days without food and water

Officers involved in an operation to disarm bandits and cattle rustlers in the volatile North Rift are going for days without food and water.

The security teams are complaining of inadequate food rations, poor working conditions and lack of co-operation from their superiors.

Officers from the General Service Unit (GSU), regular and Administration Police along with the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) officers claim they receive meagre food rations, survive on contaminated water and endure poor sanitation.

“We are fed on ugali and cabbages like school children yet were are dealing with armed bandits with superior weapons who feast on roast meat and a balanced diet. This has adversely affected our morale in this harsh terrain,” said one of the disgruntled who requested not to be named for fear of victimisation.

The officers, who are stationed in various hot spots in West Pokot, Turkana and Baringo counties, also complained over the government delay in releasing their allowances.

According to the officers, each of them is entitled to a Sh30,000 allowance during the operation’s period, but many of them are yet to receive their stipend.

“Sometimes we ran out of water and food supplies prompting us to go without food for many days yet we have no cash to buy the items from shopping centres,” said another officer.

The aggrieved officers complained that no senior police officer has visited them.

“Some of the officers were deployed here for the first time and they are yet to visit their families since last year,” lamented another disgruntled officer. The ragged terrain of the area is a perfect spot for armed bandits to ambush the officers, most of whom are not conversant with the terrain of the area.

Nadome and Suguta have been nicknamed “The Valley of Death.”

But reacting to the claims, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Osman Warfa said his office was yet to receive the officers’ complaints but promised to follow-up the matter.

“Please just give me the areas where the said officers are stationed without even naming them, and we will follow up the matter with Nairobi,” Mr Warfa, who was on a peace caravan in Turkana County, told the Nation on phone.

Last year’s killing of 19 Administration Police officers in Kapedo and the recent killing of at least 60 people at the porous Nadome area at the border of Turkana and Baringo counties brought to more than 400 the number of those who have died in the region for the last one year alone.

Senior police officers have been condemned for deploying junior officers some of whom have served in the force for less than six months in an area they are not familiar with.

This came as leaders from the volatile areas started a one week peace caravan to unite the warring communities.

The caravan brings together senior government officials, peace ambassadors and local leaders in a bid to end the perennial banditry attacks in the region.

Mr Warfa said the caravan will also promote dialogue.