Bandit attacks force hundreds to flee homes in Baringo
Dozens of residents in Baringo County have been forced to flee their homes after a series of bandit attack in the area. PHOTO | CHEBOITE KIGEN | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
A team from Red Cross which was heading to the volatile Arabal area for a fact finding mission and to provide humanitarian aid was forced to cut short the journey as security in the area deteriorated.
Hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes as bandit attacks intensified in Baringo County over the past four days.
The residents, mostly women and children, from Sosionte, Chebinyiny, Arabal, Kasiela and Chemorong'ion have sought refuge in Nyimbei in Baringo South.
This came as bandits engaged security officers in a fierce exchange of fire in Chebinyiny on Tuesday as the situation got worse.
A team from the Red Cross, which was heading to the volatile Arabal area for a fact-finding mission and to provide humanitarian aid, was forced to cut short the journey as security in the area deteriorated.
A resident, William Kandie, said people had stopped their daily activities because they feared being attacked.
“We have been rendered paupers after all our livestock were stolen before. We had resorted to farming but the irrigation scheme at Embosos has now been destroyed by the bandits.
"We are now living in fear after the elapse of a two-day ultimatum issued by some leaders from the neighbouring community to arrest the killers of two politicians slain in Marigat on Saturday.
"We do not know what will befall us,” he said.
ILLEGAL FIREARMS
On Sunday, leaders from Tiaty, led by Baringo County Assembly Speaker William Kamket, said they were giving a two-day ultimatum to the government to find out who killed Loyamorok MCA Fredrick Kibet Cheretei and MP aspirant Simon Pepee or face unspecified action.
On a tour of Nyimbei on Tuesday, Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi condemned the rampant banditry attacks and called on the two warring Pokot and Tugen communities to co-exist peacefully.
“I am also appealing to leaders to avoid inciting utterances which can ignite animosities among the warring communities,” he said.
Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Wanyama Musiambo also toured Marigat on Tuesday and said the proliferation of illegal firearms in the North Rift region was the main reason behind the banditry attacks.
"The government shall not condone a section of individual to take advantage of the situation. Security have reviewed and made a recommendation for the areas to be declared disturbed," said Musiambo.
The administrator said the security team in the region had recommended to the Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to declare the volatile areas disturbed and insecure.
