Turkana, Kenya: Six people were killed in separate raids while five others escaped with serious injuries in attacks involving Turkana and Pokot communities.
Heavily armed raiders stormed Kotaruk area, Loima Constituency in Turkana County on Thursday at around 3pm and started shooting in the air to scare away villagers before stealing over 300 goats.
Legislators - James Lomenen (Turkana South) and Protus Akuja (Loima) told The Standard on Sunday on telephone that the militia raided several homes and later stormed Kotaruk manyatta village, before killing four residents in a fight that went long into the night.
The goats had not been recovered by the time of going to press yesterday, but the police on the ground are pursuing the culprits, according to the leaders.
“We have told the Government of how our people are being killed, however, some State officials recently accused us of dishonesty. Why don’t they come to the ground and witness this,” Lomenen said.
He said Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo, had earlier visited the region and assured residents that the security situation would be addressed.
The legislator wondered why such incidents still continue, even after deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to the region.
Lomenen regretted that the targeted areas were the same ones where the IG had recently disarmed Kenya Police Reservists, with the promise of providing sophisticated ammunition. “The reports we are gathering from the residents are shocking.
They claim majority of the attackers, especially those who raided Kotaruk on Friday night, were not speaking fluent Pokot dialect, and that’s why we are suspecting that our neighbours gang-up with those from Uganda to hide their identity,” he added.
Lomenen appealed to the Government to beef up security along the border areas, saying that KPR, who have been protecting the residents, do not have adequate ammunition like the raiders’.
“Our people are dying because of inadequate security at the border areas. It is pure impunity because when I informed the IG about the incident yesterday, he only responded in a text message saying, –’all the DIGs and DCIs were instructed to swing into the action’, what does this mean?" He posed.
Bullet wounds
Akuja concurred, saying the Government’s ‘relaxed’ attitude is worsening the situation. He said the Pokot community have proved to be ‘unshakable’ despite the deployment of KDF.
“Innocent people are dying. We do not even know when these incessant attacks will cease. I think our brothers are taking advantage because they know that Turkana people do not have weapons and the ability to defend themselves,” Akuja reiterated.
He said that besides the four shot dead in his constituency, an elderly man and a child also succumbed to bullet wounds after they were attacked and shot at Kakongu trading centre in Turkana South.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
Security personnel are said to have been deployed to the area yesterday.
Efforts to reach the IG by the time of going to the press did not bear fruit, as his phone went unanswered.
As the incident occurred, another 290 livestock were separately stolen at Lotechuru in Katilia location of Turkana East.
The area Member of Parliament Nicholas Ngikor said suspected bandits from Pokot West carried the attacks at dawn and sped off with the animals as others kept vigil after exchanging fire and overpowering KPR.
There was no casualty following the incident.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join