14 killed, 13 injured as communities clash in renewed Baragoi fighting

At least 14 people have been killed and 13 others injured in two separate attacks in Samburu North.

The first incident involving members of the Samburu and Turkana communities took place in Lomerok in Baragoi on Sunday, leaving eight people dead.

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRC) officials said six other people were reportedly killed in Sarima, several kilometres from Baragoi, yesterday morning.

KRC Samburu Coordinator County Mugambi Gitonga told The Standard nine people who were critically injured were airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.

Gitonga said tension had heightened in the highly volatile Baragoi region and called for stepping up of security to prevent further loss of life.

"We have a plane in Loiyangalani and paramedics are assessing the degree of injuries to determine who should be airlifted," added Gitonga.

He said the clashes in Lomerok, near Suguta Valley where 42 police officers were killed in November 2012, happened at around 8p.m. while the ones in Sarima occurred yesterday at around 6a.m.

Flee region

"In the two incidents, no livestock were stolen," Gitonga said, adding residents had already started fleeing the conflict zones and that schools in the area may not reopen.

"We foresee a situation where residents will not be able to access basic requirements such as water, food and shelter. This is further worsening the hunger situation as the area is still recovering from the recent prolonged dry spell," he noted.

More than 27 people have so far been killed in the area, according to KRC officials.

"We have had over 10 attacks, including these two. Three happened in Lonjorin, one near Baragoi town, two in suiyan where five people died, one in Marti and another in Tum," the KRC official revealed.

Interior Coordination officials led by Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Osman Warfa visited the area, but declined to speak to journalists about the attacks.

When contacted later by The Standard, Mr Warfa replied through a text message that he was in a meeting.

Reacting to the incidents, area MP Aloise Lentoimaga said the Government was to blame for the continued killings in Baragoi as it had failed to deploy enough security to the area.

"We have visited all relevant offices in Government but nothing has been done," he said.

A senior police officer based in Baragoi, who The Standard tried to reach for further details, appeared agitated about the worsening security situation in the area.

"They have been fighting since we were born. What do they want us to do? We are also tired. Let them continue fighting if they think that is good,"

Last Week, Governor Moses Lenolkulal and Mr Lentoimaga asked the Government to launch the planned security operation dubbed ‘Rudisha Ng'ombe ya Wizi’ announced in March.

Community Policing Director Aggrey Adoli urged county governments to support the 'Nyumba Kumi' initiative, adding it was one of the surest ways of ending the attacks.