Empty police stations shock leaders

Kenya: Gunshots rent the air in Maua, Laikipia West, on Wednesday shortly after members of a Senate committee left a village where they had gone to investigate insecurity.

Suspected cattle rustlers are said to have shot several times in the air immediately the Senate Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs committee, led by chairman Yusuf Haji, left Maua Police Post.

Area Senator GG Kariuki informed the committee of the incident when they reached Kamwenje Police Post, forcing police officers to be deployed to the area.

Earlier, the committee was shocked to find more than 10 police posts, built with money from the Laikipia West Constituency Development Fund during Kariuki's tenure as an MP, without police officers.

Only one officer manned the Kamwenje post as his colleague was said to be on leave.

The officer is said to commute 10 kilometres to the station daily.

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The senators expressed shock, wondering how the stations could be operational for five years without officers being deployed to the area.

"It's unbelievable; the police posts are in better condition than those in Nairobi but they have not seen even a single officer. This is an issue we must report even to the President for action to be taken," said Haji.

He regretted that failure by the State to deploy officers to the area was contributing to increased cattle rustling.

"This is an issue that should have been dealt with a long time ago. We should not have waited for our people to get killed and their livestock stolen for us to visit. Our report must provide solutions," noted Haji.

 ILLEGAL GRAZERS

Kariuki blamed cattle rustlers crossing from Baringo into Laikipia County for the violence. He said they used valleys in the area to hide from police.

"This is a buffer zone that they use to hide. It is only wise that we put up police posts on the Baringo side and others in Laikipia. There is no way Laikipia can develop when our people are insecure," he noted.

Others members on the team were Murang'a Senator Kembi Gitura, nominated Senator Fatuma Dullo, Abubakar Hargura (Marsabit) and Laikipia West MP Wachira Karani.

They toured Maua, Kamwenje, Kabati, Ol Moran, Survey and Rumuruti.

Area Woman Rep Jane Apollos urged the State to evacuate all illegal grazers in the region, saying they contributed to insecurity.