Kenya, Tanzania stike a deal to end banditry along border

By Kipchumba Kemei

NAROK, KENYA: Kenya and Tanzania security teams have agreed to cooperate to eradicate runaway banditry along the two East African country borders.

The agreement which was arrived on Wednesday during a joint security meeting also include intelligence sharing and a mop up of small arms which marauding bandits use to rob and kill people in settlements along the common border.

In the last two months more than seven people have been robbed and killed by bandits suspected to be Tanzanians. Because of the recurrent incursion, several families living along the border have left their homes.

Two weeks ago, two brothers who were cattle traders and a Lands Ministry official were killed in Naikara area. Angry residents pursued the bandits, killed three of them and recovered an AK 47 loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition.

In meeting which was held at Cottars 1920s Tented Camp in Olderkesi area, along the border and which was chaired by Narok County Commissioner Kassim Farah and Ngorongoro DC Elias Laali, cultivation along the border by a Tanzanian tribe who practice farming, the Sonjo, should stop as a long term measure to deter banditry.

The meeting was also attended by police chiefs from the two countries, the Narok County governor Samuel Kuntai, Narok West MP Patrick Ntutu and Politicians from Kenya. Journalists were barred from accessing it.

Narok South DC Chimwaga Mongo who read the Joint Communiqué to the press after the meeting said joint security teams from location to the district levels that will coordinate security matters will be formed and all security roads in Kenya and Tanzania should be upgraded to easy movement of security personnel.

“The meeting was unanimous that all security posts should be facilitated with serviceable vehicles and its personnel equipped to deal with insecurity along the border. All roads should be improved to make them passable during all weather conditions,” said Mongo who also asked the public to assist in fighting banditry.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said after attended the burial of two brothers who were killed the bandits in Naikara that the Jubilee government should prioritise provision of security to all Kenyans and added that several police stations and posts should be built along all common borders to check on cross border attacks on the country.