Leaders fan Kerio banditry for political mileage — official

Outgoing Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner Dr Ahmed Omar has accused politicians of exploiting banditry for political gain and failing to support government efforts to end violence.

Omar said Monday that leaders in some counties go to the extent of using the plight of children for political mileage.

Political leaders have reduced themselves to "cry babies" who only dash to the region whenever there's banditry to show themselves as sympathetic, he said. But they are not serious about solving the problem, he added.

Some political leaders can afford to hire choppers and fly to the region with the media, only to show off and then return to Nairobi within an hour, leaving communities with no solutions.

“We have done a lot with the communities and other groups but among the leadership there were gaps and weaknesses. There were times I did not get support from local politicians."

Omar has been transferred to Busia and his place taken by John Korir who has pledged to continue the war against banditry.

The outgoing county chief spoke emotionally about the challenges he faced in the fight against banditry.

“The politicians should know that this is not the responsibility of the county commissioner alone. This is a collective responsibility and I hope for my incoming colleague there will be a change because he needs the support," Omar said.

He appealed to local politicians to understand that they must be committed to finding peace for their communities.

“If they really need peace for their people, then they have to work with the government officers in a collaborative manner. They shouldn’t always blame the county commissioner as if we have a magic bullet to end banditry," he said.

Omar said the political leaders were used to only appearing in Kerio Valley whenever there were killings, asking residents to carry twigs, march in protest and make press statements.

“Now that I am handing over, let them support my colleague," Omar said.

He said chiefs and elders in Kerio Valley were living in fear because they were being threatened by bandits and communities to stop the fight against banditry or risk being killed.

Omar said communities in the region are to blame for the latest wave of attacks that have led to the killing of more than 80 people in six months.

He said political and community leaders in counties affected by banditry must commit themselves to working with the government.

He accused some political leaders of taking advantage of children, including those in school, to seek political mileage.

“When there is a problem, they need to inform us instead of seeking to take advantage of the children to gain political mileage. That is stupid politics and it’s reckless," he said.

He said for two years up to June 2021, there had been no violence in the region until youth from Marakwet raided the Pokot side and killed a herder. This led to counterattacks that have not stopped.

“We had accomplished so much until the chiefs and elders were being threatened. They went round urging communities to abandon banditry and putting in place measures to end it until they started living under threats," Omar said.

He said since he was posted to the area in August 2018 he had worked with the elders and chiefs, using all means possible to end banditry.

“We even applied cultural ceremonies that worked in many areas until we stopped because of Covid-19.  I hope my successor will still work with the elders to do whatever can work to end banditry," Omar said.

Korir said he would work with communities and leaders in the region to deal with challenges in Kerio Valley, including land problems.

(Edited by V. Graham)