Tears as prayers for victims of Marakwet bandit attack are held

Tears flowed freely and emotions ran high Thursday during a requiem mass in Kapkobil, Marakwet East for four people killed on Saturday last week by bandits, ahead of their Friday burial.

The mass was held at Kapkobil Primary School, about 400 metres from where they were killed, bringing back the painful memories of how their bullet-riddled bodies were retrieved from a grazing field.

Speaker after another, in their message of comfort to the bereaved families, called on the government to reinstate the police reservists so as to restore peace in the region, lamenting that the bloodletting has been rampant and it should stop.

Tourism and Wildlife Chief Administrative Secretary Joseph Boinett, his Principal Secretary Fred Segor, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, Marakwet East MP David Bowen, Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Omar Ahmed were among leaders who attended the requiem mass. They pledged to work towards ending the insecurity menace in the area.

Mr Laxmana Kiptoo, a resident, said he had witnessed many people being killed, with no sign of the killings coming to an end.

“I am now in my mid-40s and since my primary school years the killings were there. We have wept and our tears are now dry. All our focus has been to raise hospital bills and burial expenses for banditry victims,” said Mr Kiptoo, adding that calls to the government to end the menace have not been heeded.

Reinstate police reservists

He said in the short term, the government should reinstate police reservists as they look for other means of opening up the region through infrastructure development among other projects that would foster interaction and cohesion.

“We live in fear because we do not know where the bandits will strike next. The government has all the machinery to quell banditry and we are in support of any measure aimed at restoring order in this region,” added Mr Kiptoo.

MP Bowen said the four died a painful death and reminded the government that the residents of Kerio Valley needs protection just as the rest of Kenyans.

“We are welcoming the move by the government to restore police reservists in Kerio Valley but they should be stationed here until we are sure there is sustained peace,” said the lawmaker.

Governor Tolgos lamented that there has been too much talk about the insecurity situation in the area and that time had come for the government to puts its act together and deal with the perpetrators.

“Our solution lies in the deployment of police reservists but we need all the perpetrators arrested and prosecuted. We do not want a situation where whenever there is an attack we are called for meetings and yet the government has the machinery to arrest the suspects,” said the governor.

He said the bandits are oscillating between the North Rift and Kerio Valley counties and arresting them should be the main focus.

Stop retaliating

“Residents should desist from launching retaliation because such acts only serve to aggravate the situation. There should be synergy among all stakeholders,” he said.

On his part, CAS Boinett called on security apparatus deployed to the region to do all within their powers and arrest the insecurity situation which is threatening to shut down the region.

“Insecurity along the Kerio Valley has inflicted a lot of suffering among many families and immense property loss. Now that police reservists will be deployed, they should work with other security organs and ensure the menace is addressed once and for all,” he said.

He said the root cause of the perennial problem should be sought and the law should take its course in dealing with the bandits.

Dr Omar said apart from the police reservists, they have sought for other apparatus, including drones, to help in scanning the shrubs for the bandits causing mayhem.

“The police reservists will be chosen from the locals and they should be people of impeccable character. Also, the Sh14.6 billion road linking West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties will aid in security response,” he said.

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