Kenya: 22 killed amidst cattle raids

(SomaliNet) As fresh violence erupted in Kenya’s parts of Rift Valley, twenty-two people were killed during cattle raids in Baringo East and Samburu districts.

According to reports, among the victims were seven members of one family who were killed in Lokodi village, Baringo East. Five of the other casualties were the family’s neighbours while five others were bandits who were felled by police bullets. In the Samburu attack, five people were killed on Tuesday night.

The report said over 200 raiders, suspected to be from either Turkana or Samburu districts, stole more than 200 animals in the Baringo raid.

Many of those injured in the attack were children and they were taken to Kabarnet District Hospital for treatment. Among them were two children aged eight and 11 who were shot on the elbow and the knee respectively.

Baringo Medical Officer of Health Joseph Odhiambo denied the Nation access to the patients saying they needed to rest “because they are in great pain”.

Churo ward councillor Julia Lochingamoi, who represents the Lokodi area, said the attackers headed towards Samburu district after stealing the livestock.

In the Samburu attack, the over 200 heavily armed bandits gunned down five herdsmen and seriously injured three others in Nasur, Lorroki division.

Charles Wasike, area OCPD, speaking from Maralal town said security officers were pursuing the killers who had fled towards East Pokot.

When Nation visited the scene on Wednesda, the bodies were still lying at the scene of the attack while the injured were taken to Maralal district hospital for treatment.

“My officers are still on the ground pursuing the raiders but the difficult terrain is a major hindrance,” he said.

The Baringo attack comes only two weeks after MPs Asman Kamama of Baringo East, who is also the Public Service minister, and MP William Cheptumo of Baringo North held a joint peace meeting in Nakuru.

Mrs Lochingamoi urged the Government to increase security surveillance in the region as hundreds of people have been rendered homeless by bandits.

She said idle youths have been a major contributor to the outdated tradition of stealing cattle because most of them lacked formal education.

An area resident, Mr Francis Chesang, who accompanied the injured to hospital, said the Government should beef up the youth enterprise fund, build more schools to eradicate illiteracy and tarmac more roads to enhance security.

A long-term strategy should be drawn for the communities to discard cattle rustling and other retrogressive cultural practices.

The district has of late been hit by rising cases of cattle rustling and four primary schools were closed due to the insecurity. Chemintany, Kapturo, Kinyach and Chemoe primary schools were closed after raiders invaded villages and occupied the houses abandoned by the displaced people.

Mr Kamama appealed to the Commissioner of Police to consider sending helicopters to the area.

He also demanded that security personnel recover the animals and bring the culprits to justice. -Nation