Villages, roads deserted after ex-chief’s killing

What you need to know:

  • “Many people have shown interest in investing in our resource-rich county, but are reluctant to do so until they are assured of their safety,” said the governor.
  • The peace caravans saw leaders from the conflict-prone counties in the North Rift set aside their differences to visit the insecurity hotspots to preach unity among the pastoralist communities.
  • Among the resolutions reached during the peace tour is that no community will enter another’s territory for whatever reason without consent.

Tension continued to mount in Baringo County yesterday following the Sunday killing of a former assistant chief by raiders.

The usually busy Marigat-Chemolingot road remained deserted, with only security vehicles patrolling the area.
Residents set ablaze shops and a posho mill belonging to a businessman in revenge attacks.

Mr Wilson Chebungei, 63, was shot dead on his way to church, but nothing was taken from him.

The attack has sparked fresh animosities between the Tugen and Pokot communities.

Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi, who toured the area on Wednesday evening, held separate meetings with leaders from the two communities.
Mr Cheboi called on the national government to implement all the resolutions reached during a recent peace caravan in Baringo, Samburu, Turkana and West Pokot counties.

RESOURCE-RICH

“Many people have shown interest in investing in our resource-rich county, but are reluctant to do so until they are assured of their safety,” said the governor.

A security officer who was injured following a shootout with armed bandits while patrolling the area on Monday night is recuperating at the county referral hospital in Kabarnet.

County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo said investigations have already been launched into the motive of the killing of the former assistant chief, who was “vocal about boundary issues”.

“We, however, call on the residents to remain calm and avoid retaliatory attacks as we will do all within our means to apprehend those behind the senseless killing,” said Mr Okwanyo.

He said more security officers had been sent to the area.

The peace caravans saw leaders from the conflict-prone counties in the North Rift set aside their differences to visit the insecurity hotspots to preach unity among the pastoralist communities.

More than 400 people have been killed by bandits this year alone.

Among the resolutions reached during the peace tour is that no community will enter another’s territory for whatever reason without consent.
But the latest attack shows there is still deep-rooted suspicion among the Turkana, Pokot, Tugen and Illchamus communities due to cattle raids and banditry.
Security teams in the region have linked the killings and the recurrent raids to political rivalry among elected leaders.
According to Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Osman Warfa, some politicians have been sponsoring armed raiders to undermine the incumbents as part of a wider scheme to dethrone them.