Samburu leaders call for buffer zone to tame bandit attacks

They proposed the creation of a 45 kilometre buffer zone between the Samburu and Pokot communities in areas bordering Suguta valley.

According to sources in the meeting, the leaders want the buffer zone created in Longewan and Pura in Suguta Marmar to stop the bandits from attacking the Samburu community.

The source told The Standard that Governor Lati called for adoption of a proactive approach to end banditry attacks in the county.

The leaders demanded immediate deployment of security offices to Ltungai and Malaso conservancies to flush out bandits who have illegally occupied the area.

"We are being lied to that the valley is inaccessible, during President Daniel Moi's tenure he would get into the valley, flush out the bandits, and create a buffer zone of about 40 kilometers and attacks would stop," said an MP who attended the meeting.

The leaders further demanded that highway patrol units be deployed along the Maralal- Baragoi road to escort motorists plying the route.

The leaders believe that the attacks targeting the Samburu community had nothing to do with cattle rustling but land.

"The conflict between Samburu and Pokot is about land. The killings targeting leaders are meant to cause fear and force people to flee from their ancestral land. This is no longer about cattle rustling," said an MP who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The leaders called for the deployment of the Rapid Response Unit and the Administration Police, who are familiar with the terrain of the region.

The leaders who met Prof Kindiki were Samburu Senator Stephen Lelegwe, Woman Representative Pauline Lenguris, MPs Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Eli Letipila (Samburu North), Jackson Lekumontare (Samburu East) and Hezena Lemaletian (Nominated).

The meeting between the CS and the leaders came a day after Governor Lati was grilled by DCI officers at the Rift Valley regional DCI headquarters in Nakuru.

The latest assessment in February to gauge the impact of the conflict indicates that it has left 200 people dead while more than 2,000 families have been displaced from their homes and two conservancies shut down.

CS Kindki promised to address the leaders concerns and institute new security measures to protect the people and property.