Soldiers comb villages for killers

An operation to flush out armed bandits believed to have killed 21 Administration Police officers on Saturday began in Tiaty, Baringo County, on Monday.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that security officers hurled explosives at a hideout and killed two people.

More than 10 lorries carrying Kenya Defence Forces soldiers drove into the region on Monday, a day after President Kenyatta visited the region and issued an ultimatum.

The President, who was accompanied by security officials, ordered the community to identify the people responsible for the killings and surrender firearms belonging to the slain officers by end of Sunday or a massive disarmament operation would follow.

On Monday, some residents were reportedly fleeing the area in fear of security officers involved in the crackdown.

Tiaty Sub-County Commissioner Daniel Kurui said that his office had not been in touch with the officers due to poor road and communication networks.

“Where they are, there is poor communication network and I cannot be in a position to comment on the ongoing operation,” the administrator told the Nation by phone.

THREAT TO DEVELOPMENT

The officers were killed in an ambush between Kapedo and Lokori in Turkana County, where they had gone to recover a General Service Unit vehicle that had been torched during a previous operation.

Mr Kenyatta said possession of illegal firearms by organised criminal gangs was a major threat to development in the region.

“I’m here today because you took the lives of more than 20 officers who were in the line of duty,” he told the residents during his tour.

The conflict between Turkana and Pokot communities is believed to be due to a boundary dispute.

Each lays a claim to the resource-rich Kapedo area, which lies on the border of Turkana and Baringo counties.

During the President’s visit, Pokot elders who were carrying green twigs to symbolise peace, apologised on behalf of the community, for the massacre which has instilled fear in officers involved in the crackdown against illegal firearms.

“Just give us two weeks and we will surrender those behind the killings and return the stolen firearms,” said Mr Paul Lutodo, an elder.

The elder said Kenya Police Reservists had been harassing the community and the people who killed the officers had mistaken them for bandits.

However, the President said the killers were known and must be produced.