By Standard on saturday team

President Kibaki has approved the establishment of an inquiry into the killings of security officers in Baragoi in Samburu County and Garissa and the subsequent destruction of property.

The President also approved the reconstruction of the destroyed Garissa market and said the Government would facilitate the traders to resume operations as soon as possible.

Three soldiers were killed in Garissa while more than 40 police officers were killed in Baragoi in an ambush by bandits. The killings sparked a major crackdown by security agencies.

Security was tightened in Garissa as Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited the area yesterday.  The Parliamentary Committee on Administration and National Security also visited Garissa to investigate the rising insecurity.

At the same time, the Cabinet on Thursday directed all Government agencies to work together to fight insecurity in the country.

“The Cabinet condemned the killings of security officers and the death of civilians in Baragoi, Garissa and Eastleigh,” read part of a brief from PPS.

Meanwhile, an AP officer who was among the 42 killed in Baragoi was laid to rest in an emotional ceremony in Uasin Gishu County. 

Mr Benson Ndung’u Kingeretho, 25, was buried yesterday even as many questions linger over the fatal mission.  His mother, Margaret Wairimu, was overwhelmed by emotions due to the loss of his firstborn son just a year after losing her husband.

Ndung’u’s aunt Gladys Njoki described him as “A young passionate and patriotic Kenyan at heart who had forever longed to serve in the disciplined services”. A cousin, Joel Nduati, who was among the people who identified Ndungu’s body at the morgue faulted the government leaving the officers body to decompose.

“We didn’t identify him until Thursday last week when the bodies had been washed and reconstructed. The level of disfiguration and rot was that bad,” he said.

The officer, according to family, had three gunshot wounds with one through the chin to the head.  His grandfather, Daniel Mburu, was displeased with the partial support the Government extended them.

He said he had to pay Sh500 mortuary fee to hold the body from Thursday to Friday when they removed it for burial.

“They just paid for the casket, offered one vehicle and cleared the mortuary fee at Chiromo and forgot they ought to pay the Sh4,000 for the graveyard,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross Society has dispatched a team of medics to help treat people displaced by conflicts in Maralal, Baragoi and adjacent villages.

According to officials the number of those who have fled Baragoi to Maralal is more than 1,500, most of who are children and women.

Speaking to The Standard On Saturday, KRCS Samburu coordinator Mugambi Gitonga said the families were still streaming to Maralal town, which they deemed safer.

About 500 people have moved to Nakoi village, which is near Maralal town.

The families are fleeing the trouble-torn areas, fearing reprisals from security personnel dispatched to track stolen livestock and bandits who killed more than 40 police officers.

Stories by Cyrus Ombati, Michael Wesonga and Job Weru