6,000 flee home as Pokot-Tugen tensions rise

Residents of Arabal location in Baringo in a baraza
after armeed cattle rustlers attacked the area last week Friday

The number of people displaced due to insecurity in parts of Baringo has increased to 6,000 after more families fled their homes along the Pokot East-Marigat border.

Marigat DC Saul Muywaya visited the affected areas where families said they feared more attacks because the government was unable to stop bandits operating in the area.

Muywaya said the government had deployed an additional 400 security personnel to help should intervene. "We are wondering why the government is not taking the insecurity issue in this region seriously yet people are losing lives and many other are displaced," said ole Mpaka.

He said the insecurity in parts of Baringo was likely to worsen as the general election approaches because the attacks were not mere cattle rustling but well calculated plans to displace one community from land in the area.

"We are also interested in knowing why some of our MPs are quiet on this issue yet its their constituents who are involved in the raids." He questioned why the attacks took place even after the government deployed security personnel to Arabal location, which is the most affected.

Ole Mpaka asked the government to deploy home guards. However, Muywaya said the government has taken measures to deal with the situation.

Two primary school pupils were last week shot dead and five people injured by raiders in Baringo county, causing fresh tensions and displacements in the clash-hit region.

More than 1,000 animals were stolen during the raid by heavily armed attackers on Wednesday night. The attacks took place at Kapindasum village in Marigat district.

Rift Valley police boss John M'Mbijiwe said more officers will be deployed in the region. Six schools in Marigat that had closed down due to increased banditry attacks had re-opened but three of them were again shut down yesterday.

Baringo county education director Hellen Nyang'au said they may be forced to move KCPE candidates in areas hit by the clashes. "If the situation does not improve we will relocate the candidates to special centres or schools where they will sit their exams," said Nyanga'u. Affected schools include Kapindasum, Kasiela, Chemungirion, Ngelecha and Arabal primary schools.

Source The Star