- The residents said insecurity has resulted in loss of lives and property as well as disruption of economic activities in the affected areas.
- The petitioners claimed over 50 lives have been lost so far and 22 people injured in the conflicts and thousands of animals stolen.
Image: COURTESY
Senate's Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations will this Thursday hold a meeting from at 12 noon to deliberate on a petition concerning incessant banditry in Lorroki and Malaso Divisions in Samburu.
The committee led by Baringo Senator William Cheptumo will meet residents from Samburu County during the session at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, KICC.
Residents of Lorroki and Malaso divisions urged the Senate to engage relevant government agencies to establish the root causes of insecurity and make appropriate recommendations.
They said insecurity has resulted in loss of lives and property as well as disruption of economic activities in the affected areas.
The petitioners claimed over 50 lives have been lost so far and 22 people injured in the conflicts and thousands of animals stolen.
“Residents of Lorroki and Malaso divisions have been enduring a sustained security crisis for approximately two years now,” the petition reads in part.
The residents added that insecurity in the areas mentioned has resulted in disruption of learning, closure of schools and displacement of people in Amayia and Nasur sublocations.
They added that insecurity has led to an increase in school dropouts and poor performance among learners.
“Teachers also fear travelling to and from schools within the area,” they claimed.
On March 5, Samburu Governor Jonathan Lelelit appeared before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at the Rift Valley regional headquarters in Nakuru.
His appearance followed summons related to increasing cases of banditry in the county.
The summon was the second in less than a month.
On February 9, Lelelit was among seven people who were questioned by the Rift Valley DCI officers over insecurity in the county.
The others were senior county government staff.
According to Lelelit, security officials are wasting time on him instead of finding the real criminals.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has been leading operations in the area in efforts to end the menace.
The Interior boss on Tuesday last week said cattle rustling in Northern Kenya has over the years become an organised criminal enterprise.
Samburu has witnessed a wave of violence over the last few months where scores were left dead and animals stolen.
A retired police officer was among those who were Sunday shot and killed by gunmen in a raid on homes in Samburu County.
Police said Aroi Lepokule, 63, was shot as he confronted gunmen who had raided his homestead and stole 56 heads of cattle in the Loosuk area.
This prompted a police operation in the area that saw all the stolen animals recovered.