Senator Moi wants Kamama out House security committee

A woman who had left her home due to insecurity speaks with Baringo North MP William Cheptumo (right) and Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (left) at Bartabwa in Baringo North on March 4, 2017. PHOTO | CHEBOITE KIGEN | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Moi said that after accusations were made against Mr Kamama, he should relinquish his post.
  • He also said some Kanu leaders opposed to the security operation are not speaking for the party.
  • He also insisted that Deputy President William Ruto’s visits to the region have achieved nothing.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi now wants Tiaty MP Asman Kamama to resign as the chairman of the National Assembly Security committee for the ongoing security operation in the county to be successful.

Speaking when he toured locals displaced by insecurity at Bartabwa in Baringo North on Wednesday, Mr Moi said that after accusations were made against Mr Kamama, he should relinquish his post so as not to been seen to be interfering with the operation.

Residents of Baringo South and North recently asked Mr Kamama to record a statement with police about the attacks but the MP distanced himself from them saying he knows nothing about them.

Senator Moi, also the Kanu leader, said that although some leaders from the Pokot community affiliated to Kanu have opposed the operation, they were not talking on his behalf or the party.

'NOT MY OPINION'

“Kenyans should know that I am the driver of a bus called Kanu and whatever they say does not mean that they are representing my opinion.

“The operation should be done in the insecurity-prone areas but (Mr) Kamama should resign first as the security parliamentary committee chairman for the operation to be successful,” he added.

He also distanced himself from claims that he is opposing the operation, saying it has his full support.

"My opponents have taken advantage to spread propaganda that I am opposing the disarmament exercise but I want to put it clear that bandits should be arrested like yesterday to restore law and order in the volatile areas in Baringo and Kerio Valley,” said Mr Moi.

He also criticised the government for being “lenient” on bandits, noting that since the operation started a week ago, none of them has been arrested.

DP RUTO VISITS

He also insisted that Deputy President William Ruto’s visits to the region have achieved nothing.

This is despite the DP launching the security operation in the county last week.

"It seems the government is doing a public relations exercise on the much-hyped operation because we are yet to hear of any arrests one week after the exercise commenced.

“We want to see all those who cause mayhem [being] brought to book.

“More than 300 bandits have been arrested in Laikipia following the killing of a Briton yet no arrests have been done in Baringo yet more than 10 people have been killed," added Mr Moi.

BLAMED LEADERS

He accused leaders from the troubled regions of failing to address the perennial problem saying he has made his contribution in the past.

"I had in the past contributed money to facilitate the purchase of a new security chopper for surveillance in Baringo only to be curtailed by the same leaders and professionals who are throwing stones at me now," said the senator.

He said that the Sh100 million rolled out by the government to compensate cattle rustling victims in the region is not enough to cater for the losses the people have incurred from armed bandits.

He also called on the government to demarcate land in the region so that people get title deeds.

"The government should also pay well the police reservists deployed in the volatile areas to beef up security," he added.