• They said anti-banditry operation must not target innocent elderly, women and children.
• Said main roads, markets and shops have been closed, making life difficult.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
Pokot leaders from Tiaty in Baringo have said they support the major security operation to flush out notorious bandits — but not collective punishment.
Our only challenge with the operation is collective punishment, in which innocent people like the elderly, women and children are also made to sufferMCA Sam Lokales
“The only challenge we have with the ongoing operation is collective punishment, whereby innocent people like the elderly, women and children are also made to suffer,” Lokales said.
The MCA said it would be prudent to focus on searching and mopping up the criminals, “without hurting the innocent population,” he said.
Lokales said free movement has been curtailed and most of the people were locked up in their homes, fearing for their lives in case they come out are abducted or shot dead at random.
He termed hunger deaths a "time bomb", saying so far all main roads leading to Tiaty have been blocked and there are no operating markets.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
Lokales said school may soon be closed down in the entire subcounty owing to the hunger and serious water shortage during the operation. “There are no markets to sell the few available livestock to feed families and pay school fees,” he said.
Tangulbei MCA Shedrack Mailuk said Pokot bandits living in neighbouring Turkana East may have been the ones behind the attack that killed 10 people last Saturday.
“Although they are Pokots, they live in Turkana so how are we, the leaders of Tiaty in Baringo, answerable while the administration in Turkana is suppose to take charge?” Mailuk asked.
He blamed the leadership in Turkana, saying instead of sharing government resources equitably, the Pokots were left to survive on their own. They become desperate and resort to banditry, he said:
NO WITCHCRAFT
Pokot elders denied allegations of witchcraft and black magic to protect bandits, saying most of them are staunch Christians.
The operation should carry on until the last bandit is sorted out. They should be tortured and killed as painfully as they did to othersSenator William Cheptumo
They do not support backward cultural practices like sorcery, cattle rustling and banditry, female genital mutilation and early marriages.
“Everyone out there should understand the majority are good people here in Pokot land, only a few people have decided to be criminals to spoil our name,” elder and former councilor Yuda Losutan said on Tuesday.
He said the ongoing operation should not stop until all the bandits are eliminated, saying it be non-stop until al criminals are eliminated.
“Pokots are are peace lovers and always yearned to coexist with other communities. Bandity is a thorn in our flesh," Losutan said.
He urged the government to consider supplying relief foodstuffs to the innocent hungry population.
DON'T RELENT
On Saturday during the burial of GSU officer John Kisoi, Baringo leaders urged the government to persist in the security operation.
“The operation should continue until the last bandit is sorted out. In fact, they should be equally tortured and killed as painfully as they did to others," Senator William Cheptumo said.
Cheptumo said the government has already been given the names of the bandits, their locations and chiefs concern. Action is awaited, he said.
He was backed by Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap and Woman Representative Florence Jematia.
They urged Tiaty MP William Kamket to "stop the tricks of seeking a handshake with President William Ruto at State House until he (Tiaty) helps us end the menace of banditry," Jematia said.
Shesaid she understands that all Pokots are not bandits but all bandits she knows are Pokots.
(Edited by V. Graham