•Ten deaths, displacement of residents and destruction of property reported since January
•Governor, MP ask government to demarcate border and enforce law
The government has been asked to send surveyors to identify beacons erected during the colonial period to determine the border between West Pokot and Turkana counties.
Clarity about the border will end the animosity between the two communities, West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo and Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto said.
The call comes after more than 10 deaths, displacement of residents and destruction of property during border conflicts between the Pokot and Turkana communities.
Lonyangapuo said land conflict is the major cause of worsening insecurity in Pokot and Turkana counties. He spoke yesterday at Kanyarkwat Girls Secondary School while inspecting development projects.
“They should put security officers at Kases, Ombolion, Takaywa and Karon kraals. The government is not serious to restore peace,” he said.
The governor wants the government to survey and demarcate the border between the two counties along the Turkwel River where insecurity is rife.
“We want to see how it will be after the the boundary issue is resolved,” he said.
Lonyangapuo accused unnamed leaders of inciting residents to cause insecurity around the disputed border.
“The call has been persistent and President Uhuru Kenyatta should step in,” the governor said.
He urged the government to investigate the recent deadly attacks. “The government should take steps to restore peace in the region,” he said.
“The government should not allow criminals to continue killing innocent people because of the border dispute, yet it has mechanisms that can help identify the boundary and end the conflict."
MP Moroto asked the government to define the boundary between the two counties to end the recurrent conflict over land.
“The government should be bold enough and state the official position regarding the boundary dispute and proceed to enforce the same ,” he said.
He accused the national government of failing to provide security along the borders of the two communities.
“They don’t return our stolen animals like we do,” the legislator said.
Moroto urged elders and leaders to pursue dialogue and help reconcile the two communities.
“They have been tarnishing the image of our county for nothing and inciting their people by saying that we have their land,” Moroto said.