- In Napeitom, Turkana East, in last week, armed suspected bandits attacked and killed a 30-year-old woman and a seven-year-old boy.
- Turkana county commissioner Boniface Wambua has issued a shoot-to-kill order against armed bandits following renewed attacks.
Image: HESBORN ETYANG
Turkana Governor Josphat has condemned resurgent banditry and urged the national government to end the spiral of violence.
County commissioner Boniface Wambua issued a shoot-to-kill order against armed bandits.
After almost three years of peace in Turkana and West Pokot counties, bandits launched attacks in Kainuk in Turkana South, driving away an unknown number of livestock.
“I demand stolen livestock be tracked, returned and the perpetrators of the raids apprehended,” Nanok said in a statement issued on Saturday.
In Napeitom, Turkana East, bandits last week killed a 30-year-old woman and a seven-year-old boy. Several people were also injured as the bandits drove away livestock towards Tiaty.
Turkana East deputy county commissioner Saidi Shabaan said security personnel were still pursuing the criminals.
Nanok said Turkana residents are peaceful people who obeyed the government’s disarmament drive and supported peace efforts with neighbouring communities.
“I call on national security agencies headed by the Ministry of Interior to immediately respond to the banditry terror to avoid recurrence. Resident must be allowed to return to their homes and resume their livelihoods.
"Immediate action is required," he said.
In a statement, Nanok said over the last month, violence has been increasing in different parts of Turkana. Frequent banditry and cattle rustling require an immediate response from the national government to prevent the situation from worsening.
“In Turkana East, the current cycle of bandit attacks began on January 31 this year and to date, six people have been killed, one injured and more than 300 livestock stolen from Kaakulit, Kamunge and Napeitom," the governor said.
In Turkana South, armed bandits attacked Koptiro (in Kainuk) Nariamao, Karenyang’ and Eco-lodge villages on February 3, and made off with more than 1,000 livestock, he said.
In Turkana West, along the border with Uganda and South Sudan, a series of bandit attacks have been reported since December last year. Eight people have been killed, two injured and more than 4,000 livestock driven away.
Nanok said in the latest attack last Tuesday, four people were killed and two injured in Kapetadie, Nanam ward, by Toposa bandits.
In Kibish subcounty an attack by Toposa bandits from South Sudan left one Turkana resident dead and another injured in Natapar kraal.
Although no deaths have been reported from Loima and Turkana North, increased cross-border rustling threatens peace and security in those borderlands, Nanok said.
He said these reports reveal a worrying trend of insecurity in Turkana where relative stability had been enjoyed for years.
“As an immediate response, the county government is collaborating with national agencies to evacuate casualties until security is beefed up.”
“The Multisectoral Emergency Response Action Plan is underway to provide water, food, non-food items, medical services and shelter for victims," he said.
The governor called on national security agencies to step up efforts and clamp down on increasing banditry and prevent further loss of innocent lives and property.
He said the peace gains in Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties and in Ethiopia should not be rolled back.
“At this time of severe drought, it is imperative to strengthen security in volatile areas to restore confidence among communities, reduce tensions and pave the way for peace processes,” Nanok said.
Commissioner Wambua said the criminals were destabilising hard-won peace.
He warned county government officials who move around with hired armed private security that their days are numbered.
(Edited by V. Graham)