Gideon faults State over Nadome killings, calls for change of tack

Kenya: Baringo Senator Gideon Moi wants the government to take full responsibility over the Nadome massacre in which some 66 people were killed last Monday after Turkana and Pokot warriors clashed.

The killings took place as cattle rustling continued unabated in the region.

Saturday, Gideon said the government had failed to protect citizens as required by the Constitution.

The senator said to ensure no more lives are lost, the government should reorganise its security apparatus in the banditry-prone areas in the North Rift.

“It is regrettable that the thousands of police officers deployed to Baringo, some even as close as 25 kilometres to Nadome, did not respond during the bloodshed,” said the senator.

Gideon, also chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, questioned whether some forces within government could be deliberately sabotaging security operations in Baringo.

“The people of Baringo deserve security like everyone else. The killing of children and women is unacceptable. It is painful and we say enough is enough,” said the senator.

He asked the government to stem insecurity that has visited the country in large scale in the recent months.

“Jubilee administration should tell Kenyans why they have failed to address insecurity. The people of Baringo are not happy about how the government has been handling insecurity in the region since 2013,” he added.

Gideon spoke yesterday when he presided over a funds drive at Tenges Primary School in Baringo Central to raise funds for the construction of a dormitory.

During the event, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi was criticised for over his recent remarks on Gideon’s perceived presidential ambitions.

Sudi, last week while attending a funeral in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, had dismissed Gideon as a political greenhorn not ripe to contest the presidency.

Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita termed Sudi’s sentiments as naïve and insensitive. He said the MP was living in the past.

“Let us develop tolerance on our leaders and respect them wherever they are. Sudi’s claims are wild and archaic. He should wake up and realiise we do not live in a world where we bash leaders the way we want,” said Mwaita.

Kiprono Chelegui, a local leader described Sudi as an agent of divisive politics and a leader who does not appreciate unity and prosperity of the Kalenjin nation.

“Sudi should learn how to practise accommodative politics and be alive to the fact leaders are as as good as the people they lead. Gideon is our senator and the MP has no business critcising leaders from other counties,” said Chelugui.

He, however, asked Baringo leaders to team up and lead the way out of insecurity situation which he says may create a rift among local communities.

Among leaders who attended the function include Vihiga County Commisssiner Boz Cherutich, Kabarak University Registrar Prof Ronald Chepkilot and Kasuku Factory MD Charles Kipng’ok.