Plan mooted to recover police guns

Head of Operations Kenya Police Philip Ndolo (centre) at Baragoi Primary school on 21st October 2013. He met various security officers following the raids over the weekend that left three people dead. ANN KAMONI

What you need to know:

  • They had also met to discuss failure by the government to recover more than 40 guns stolen from security officers by suspected Turkana raiders last year.

Security agencies have embarked on a campaign to recover more than 40 guns stolen from the police last year in Baragoi, Samburu County.

County commissioner Wilson Nyakwanga said they would mount a crackdown to also recover hundreds of animals stolen in raids.

“Several people have been killed and a lot of animals stolen during raids this year,” Mr Nyakwanga told the Nation by phone Tuesday.

The latest cattle raid was on Friday when three people were killed and six injured when Turkana raiders attacked a Samburu manyatta at Waso Rongai village, 50 kilometres from Baragoi trading centre.

Fresh attacks

The attack came barely a week after leaders in the county warned in Baragoi that pastoralists were re-grouping to raid each other.

Governor Moses Lenolkulal, had warned the national government during a meeting that tension had remained high in Suyan, Marti, Kawaup and Baragoi trading centres from where people were fleeing.

Those at the meeting included county representatives and executive committee members from Samburu and Turkana.

They were meeting after pastoralists descended on Marti, where pasture is now available as drought ravages the rest of Samburu County.

At Marti, herders from Samburu and Turkana have been joined by Pokots whom the leaders said were also regrouping, preparing to attack.

They had also met to discuss failure by the government to recover more than 40 guns stolen from security officers by suspected Turkana raiders last year.

The guns were seized when the security agents were trying to recover stolen animals.

The government gave the bandits an ultimatum to surrender the guns, which they ignored. A plan to recover the guns was eventually called off to give Turkana leaders time to persuade the bandits to voluntarily hand them over.

Tuesday, Mr Nyakwanga said: “We are now about to start the security operation to recover the stolen guns.”

The county leaders said in a joint statement after their meeting: “We urge President Kenyatta to declare the insecurity in Baragoi a national disaster.”

Eight people have died in Baragoi since August during livestock raids.