Banditry: Organised crime with trail of death, destruction in Kerio Valley

Banditry has over decades caused untold suffering characterised by many deaths and injuries on the people of Kerio Valley and other affected counties.

The scars left by the insecurity problem is evident in the region that has earned the infamous tag-the valley of death.

Stalled development programmes, abandoned homes and farms, drop outs from schools, general poverty and death are but some of the scars caused by banditry in Kerio Valley affecting several counties including Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu.

Not even innocent children and women have been spared the wrath of bandits as they raid homes and attack them with many losing their lives.

The attacks are usually carried out by hundreds of armed young men in groups raiding rival communities across borders of the affected counties.

In just two month before the August 9 polls, more than 130 people were killed by bandits in Kerio Valley. Last year it was estimated that up to 500 people lost their lives.

From forceful disarmament, voluntary surrender of illegal arms, amnesty to the bandits to surrender, deployment of heavy security and even security operations that at time involved KDF, there has been little success in taming banditry.

The anti-stock theft unit was formed to specifically deal with the challenge of cattle rustling and its work has also been backed by frequent multi-agency security operations, disarmament initiatives and peace accords between communities and other sensitisations activities but little has been achieved.

Even as the new administration of President William Ruto promises to wipe out the vice, security officials, political leaders in the region, civil societies, the clergy and other stakeholders believe banditry is perpetrated by organised criminals who must be targeted and dealt with as such.

The attacks had initially been linked to some outdates cultural practices associated with marriage and dowry but it spiralled into massive attacks with severe impact on residents.

Elgeyo  Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich says the attacks are no longer about cattle alone but also targeted school children and civil servants working in the region who do not own any animals.

“Recently they shot children in school buses and also killed an agricultural officer. There were no animals in the school buses and the agricultural officer does not rear livestock and was just deployed here to serve residents," Rotich says.

He says this is an indication that banditry is perpetrated by organised criminals who kill even children to intimidate their targets and take away animals that are the main source of wealth for families in the region.

Rift Valley regional commissioner Maalim Mohammed said security agencies had identified and profiled more than 350 individuals who lead the criminal gangs that carry out banditry attacks in the region.

Some of those profiled and already arrested are individuals believed to be suppliers of arms to the criminal gangs in the region while others are known gang leaders among the bandits.

Tiaty constituency which forms a third of Baringo county and is a thick forest area with no access because of poor roads, has been identified as a major hide out for the bandits who operate in caves and are known to carry out surveillance before staging attacks.

Reports have indicated in the past that some of the stolen animals find their way into markets in other regions which is an indication of the commercial element in the banditry menace.

Three years ago, report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) linked politicians and influential individuals to organised banditry in the region.

The then chairperson of he commission Kagwiria Mbogori called for investigations and action against those involved.

Immediate former CS for Interior Fred Matiang'i who visited Kerio Valley just before the last elections also alluded to banditry being the work of organised criminals.

He wondered how hundreds of animals could be stolen and immediately disappear without being traced.  Matiang'i fell short of accusing security agencies of abetting banditry. There were reports that some former security officers were also involved in the attacks.

“We must identify these people and deal with them as criminals so that we end this banditry menace once and for all,” Matiang'i said.

Former IG David Kimaiyo who carried out a research on banditry and also once chaired a task force to deal with infiltration of small arms, said the infiltration of the small arms into the hands of civilians is a major cause of banditry in Kerio Valley.

“The state has to look into effective ways of dealing with the problem of illegal arms in a manner that will not make any of the communities feel they have been left vulnerable to attacks,” he said.

Government estimates indicate that nomadic communities in the region hold up to 50,000 small arms illegally.

The arms have been used to kill more than 1,500 people in banditry attacks in the region within the last decade during which an estimated 100,000 heads of livestock were also stolen in the affected five counties. Those killed also include hundreds of security officers.

Catholic Bishop of Eldoret Dominic Kimengich calls for an all inclusive approach involving communities saying the use of force alone can not work effectively.

He says there is need for the government to invest heavily in education, infrastructure, food production through irrigation and other economic activities that will give communities in the region alternative means of earning a living instead of relying on banditry.

Lack of pasture and water have also been cited as some of the reasons fuelling banditry attacks in the Kerio Valley.

Inter-county boundary disputes, high levels poverty and illiteracy are also listed as other key reasons for the attacks.

Bishop Kimengich is among leaders who are calling for an in depth look into the problem of banditry and possible solutions.

“We cannot continue to lose lives including that of innocent children and women who have nothing to do with banditry,” Kimengich said.

He wants the state to work with communities and all stakeholders so that a permanent solution is found to help restore peace and security in affected counties.

Ahead of the last elections, banditry attacks were on the rise. Former IG Joseph Boinnet who was also eying Elgeyo Marakwet governorship urged leaders in Kerio Valley and the government to use alternative ways involving communities to support efforts to end banditry in the region.

Boinnet cited the need to use traditional methods in search for peace in the region.

He said the communities are aware of the challenges they face and could also provide the alternative solutions so that there is lasting peace in affected counties.

“Those communities in Kerio Valley have lived together for many years and they had ways of dealing with conflicts. Time has come to look into homegrown solutions,” Boinnet said.

Former Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner Dr Ahmed Omar who was transferred from the region just before the last elections had harsh words for political leaders before he left.

“There has been no political goodwill to help deal with the problem of insecurity in Kerio Valley. Instead, some of our leaders are taking advantage of the problem to seek political mileage at the expense of the lives of residents,” Dr Omar said.

President Ruto and his deputy Rigathu Gachagua have vowed to completely end banditry in the region.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has also vowed that he was ready to camp in the region if that is what it will take to stop banditry.

Senator for Nandi Samson Cherargei is spearheading changes to the Anti-Terrorism Act to include banditry so that those perpetrating the menace in Kerio Valley are dealt with.

Analysts however say it would take more than words, declarations and threats to end banditry.

Kerio Valley is still bleeding and as some local leaders have indicated, its only the hand of God that may finally bring peace and security to the region.