Joy as two abducted boys found alive

By ROBERT KIPLAGAT

Baringo County: Two boys kidnapped five days ago by bandits from Lokis in East Pokot District of Baringo County were found alive tied and abandoned in a bush.

The two brothers, Kanyekera,14 and Longacha Longoleki were herding when armed raiders kidnapped them before fleeing with 65 cows towards Lokwomsing in the neighbouring East Turkana district.

East Pokot OCPD Fredrick Ochieng said that during the joint search involving his team, Turkana East police and local residents they found the two boys at Naisokon village in Turkana area.

“We found the two boys tied together with pieces of cloth abandoned in the bush. They were emaciated and slightly injured through caning but were in stable condition,” Ochieng told The Standard.

The abduction and the stealing of livestock from the Pokot side by suspected Turkana raiders had raised tension in the area leading to over 100 families fleeing their homes in fear of attacks.

The OCPD has however called on the residents to remain calm and desist from retaliatory attacks as security forces were handling the situation.

Encroachment of territory

Insecurity along the borders of East Pokot and Turkana East has lately been on the rise and local leaders have expressed fears that the attacks could spark conflict between the two communities if the Government delays to act.

“We need the Government to rescue the children as soon as possible and recover the stolen livestock. If this issue is not properly addressed, it might bring bad blood between these two communities,” said area Ward Representative Stephen Maklap.

Recently, the Baringo County Assembly raised concern over encroachment of its territories by neighbouring counties among then Turkana, using attacks to displace residents and occupying land.

A Motion proposing the setting up of a team to investigate the boundary issue for appropriate action to be done was moved by Mumberes/Majimazuri Ward Representative Peter Kimani who was supported by a majority of Members of the County Assembly.