Three chiefs interdicted over ethnic flare-up

By Leonard Korir

Narok, Kenya: The government has interdicted a chief and two assistant chiefs in Trans Mara after a ethnic flare-up at Lolgorian that left seven people dead and tens of houses burnt.

Narok County Commissioner Farah Kassim interdicted the three on grounds that they were either taking sides and pitting the two communities against each other or taking no action against dealers in illicit brews blamed for increased cases of crime in the area.

Samson ole Munge (Oronkai location chief), Julius Sang (assistant chief, Kapkoros) and John Rono (assistant chief, Pinpiniet) were all slapped with a one-month interdiction.

“I have taken this decision to interdict these government officers for failing to end crime and trade of illicit brews in their areas of jurisdiction,” said Kassim

At the same time, Kassim issued a stern warning against those perpetrating violence in Trans Mara West District and assured residents that those behind Monday’s killing of seven people in Lolgorian division would be arrested and charged.

Kassim said the Government would ruthlessly deal with gangs in the area. He gave the warning at Pinpiniet area along the Trans Mara West-Trans Mara East border where he led a high-powered security delegation to the area following the killing of another person on Wednesday night.

Kassim was accompanied by Narok County Director of Criminal Investigations, Lydia Ligame and Trans Mara Deputy County Commissioner Abdihakim Jubat.

He said extra security personnel had been deployed in the area.