Three herders killed in fresh raids

Armed raiders attacked a Turkana village on Saturday and killed three herdsmen.

The bandits struck at Kasurokorio grazing field in Turkana South Sub County and stole hundreds of animals.

The Saturday attack occurred at around 3pm, a day after leaders from both Turkana and West Pokot leaders resolved to work together to stop banditry along their porous border.

According to Katilu Chief Allan Aleper, bandits killed one herder on the spot and abducted two others. The two were later killed two kilometres from the grazing field.

Those killed were identified as Mr Nawokochwee Lodunga, Mr Lotiake Lokwaita and Mr Lotanoko Nabunakan.

The bandits drove the animals towards Kasses, Takaywa, Kaarun, Lodukuma/Lochacha Kraals near Loyapat after overpowering police reservists who were following them.

Mr Jacob Alou, a herder who was part of the 42 families that lost animals, blamed what he called the invasion of Turkana by armed Pokot in search of pasture for the clashes.

LIVING IN KRAALS

“The bandits who are living in kraals near our villages and in Southern Turkana National Reserve are coordinating with those from West Pokot to attack and steal animals from us,” claimed Mr Alou who lost 152 goats.

Another resident, Mr James Kisike, blamed the increased banditry attack to the slow pace by the government to demarcate the borders stating that over 20 villages along the border are claimed by both communities.

The attacks bring to 13 the number of herders killed along the border of Turkana and Pokot for the last two weeks. Three police reservists are among the dead.

Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok and his West Pokot counterpart Simon Kachapin led senators, MPs and MCAs from the region in the two day peace pact held in Kitale.

END RUSTLING

Meanwhile, political leaders from West Pokot and Turkana counties have vowed to end rustling along the border of the two devolved units.

The leaders, who met in Kitale to broker the peace deal on Saturday, acknowledged that warring between the two communities has not only killed hundreds, but also derailed development.

The meeting convened by the clergy from North Rift agreed on 42 resolutions.

Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok said peace in the region is “inevitable” since banditry had undermined his county government’s development agenda. “Projects in 18 out of the total 30 wards have stalled due to attacks ,’ said Governor Nanok.

West Pokot governor Simon Kachapin attributed the attacks to economic marginalisation.

Additional reporting by Philip Bwayo and Barnabas Bii