Kerio projects likely suspended as money needed to fight bandits

Laikipia has been the focus of a militaria-aided operation so have authorities taken their eye off the ball in Kerio Valley infested with criminal gangs?

That's what some Kerio Valley leaders and residents think.

Three Kerio counties are considering suspending all development projects and redirecting resources to to restore peace by hiring National Police Reservists. 

This follows the killing of a widow, her two children and  county agricultural officer Benjamin Sum on Saturday.

The family was harvesting millet on their when they were ambushed and each shot with 10 bullets in broad daylight. Nothing was stolen.

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos said on Sunday h is in discussions with West Pokot Governor John Longyangapuo and Stanley Kiptis of Baringo  to suspend development projects in the region.

The money would be redirected to hire National Police Reservists who know the area and can protect communities.

More than 20 people have been killed in two months and Tolgos wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and end the loss of lives.

The national and county governments have been focused om Laikipia where criminal gangs have invaded private arms and conservancies.

Tolgos said the latest ambush killings and lack of theft indicated the problem is no longer about cattle rustling.

“When they kill schoolchildren, a mother and an officer who were not armed in any way and did not have cattle, we can say it’s not about banditry. This is a different issue," Tolgos told a media briefing in Eldoret.

The county boss said the government had suspended the police reservists programme in the region but they want it revived.

“We know the government was not able to pay the reservists. But we are saying they hire the NPRs but counties will use their resources from suspended projects to pay them," Tolgos said.

Tolgos said security chiefs had not implemented measures suggested at previous security meetings in the region and they now want the government to recruit and deploy the NPRs immediately.

“It has reached a point where we no longer care about development in the region. What we now want is to secure the lives of our people as a priority because county projects can wait," he said.

He spoke as the Kenya National Union on Teachers (Knut) is threatening to withdraw teachers and children from the schools in Kerio Valley after the four killings.

Knut secretary f0r Elgeyo Marakwet John Cheberi said many children and teachers have lost their lives to criminals and it was impossible for learning to take place in an insecure environment.

He said  unless measures are enforced to end banditry, they will ask teachers to shut down schools for their safety and that of children.

Tension remained high the region following the killings.

The widow was identified as Caroline Kemboi and her two children Jeptoo, aged 14, and Kiprono aged 12. they were pupuils at Liter and Sambalet Primary Schools, respectively..

Endo ward fgricultural officer Benjamin Sum was shot in the head at Kapkobil along Tot-Chesongoch road just a kilometre from his Tot work station.

The killings sparked protests from professionals from the Marakwet community and women who accused Interior CSFred Matiangi and his security team of failing to end banditry in the region.

Residents demonstrated in the area, expressing fears that several schools may not continue to operate due to violence.

The professionals led by Laxaman Kiptoo said more than 20 people had been killed in two month and the 12-hournight curfew was only working tothe advantage of bandits who roam the area at all times.

“Our security teams are unable to deal with the insecurity problem in Kerio Valley and we are asking the government to deploy Kenya Police Reservists so that they can help protect our people," Kiptoo said.

Additional security officers were deployed in the affected area to help restore calm.

“We wonder  how long will our people be exposed to such suffering yet we have a government that is supposed to protect all of us," Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said.

In July, Matiangi and Police IG Hillary Mutyambai led security chiefs to visit the region where they announced security measures to end banditry but the attacks have continued.

The CS imposed a night curfew but residents said it isn't helping.

“In fact, bandits roam everywhere during curfew hours to survey our homes, then come to attack in broad daylight, resident Rose Kilimo said.

(Edited by V. Graham)