By Peter Ochieng and Kevin Tunoi
Kenya: Three people have been killed and five others seriously injured in fresh fighting that broke out on Tuesday between members of the Pokot and Turkana communities.
The fighting erupted early in the morning and lasted about five hours.
The latest clash came just two days after Pokot leaders postponed a peace meeting that was intended to resolve the long-standing feud between the two communities over a boundary dispute and the cattle rustling menace.
According to Loima MP Protus Akujah, youths suspected to be from the Pokot community invaded Kotaruk village in the constituency on Sunday although they were no livestock stolen during the incident.
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He said the suspected group struck again on Monday morning and drove several heads of livestock.
The stolen animals are said to have been driven towards Apuke in West Pokot District, but were later recovered by police officers and Kenya Police Reservists.
“When the raiders came back on Tuesday, they stole the livestock without any confrontation because they caught the villagers unawares.
A resident, Joseph Epokon, said the tension was high in the area, with residents scampering for safety.
“I saw five people from Turkana area with blood stains who were looking for vehicles to take them to the hospitals. I did not know the number of people injured on the Pokot side,” Epokon said.
Acting OCPD Chief Inspector Edward Mutemi confirmed the killing, adding that he was only aware of one KPR who had been injured and not five.
“We got information from the ground and responded immediately accompanied by the Kenya Police Reservist officers. The team caught up with the raiders before they could cross the border,” said Mutemi.
Gunfight
Mutemi said the raiders engaged police in a gunfight for more than five hours before the officers overpowered them.
Area county commandant Emmanuel Karisa said he was aware of the incident but promised to give further details later.
Meanwhile, police in Eldoret have disbanded a local community policing unit for overstepping its mandate.
The group is said to have been extorting money from traders in Langas area to offer them protection.
It was also reportedly operating a police station and was issuing copies of P3 forms and police abstracts to unsuspecting members of the public at a fee.
Residents were also required to report criminal and civil cases to the offices upon which they were issued occurrence book (OB) numbers.
Uasin Gishu acting County Commander Nelson Taliti said the office had over-stepped its mandate and was breaking the law.
“The only places that can operate as police stations are those that are duly gazetted. The office was acting as a parallel police station, creating confusion among residents,” he said.
Taliti said all services offered at police stations were free as per the National Police Service Charter and that they will not allow any groupings to taint the image of the service.
Elsewhere, a dismantled Kenya National Highways Authority vehicle that had been stolen was recovered in Bondo in Nyanza, as the police claimed they had broken a Government car theft ring.
The Toyota Hilux registration number KAU 269P and another Toyota Prado KBN 918E were stolen from the parastatal’s parking yard in Eldoret between the nights of 16 and 17 February. Uasin Gishu County Criminal Investigations Officer Isaac Musyoki said although they did not make any arrest, they were following crucial leads to apprehend the suspected criminals.
