Police officers in Kapedo arms mop-up ‘neglected’

The security officers disarming herders in Kapedo on the border of Baringo and Turkana counties have accused their superiors of failing to cooperate with them.

They were sent to the troubled area following the killing of 19 Administration Police officers and three civilians by suspected armed Pokot raiders in an ambush in November last year.

The crackdown is led by the Kenya Defence Forces.

Many junior officers involved in the operation, especially from the AP unit and the General Service Unit, complained of poor working conditions.

“We were just deployed here. Sometimes we run out of water and go for days without food yet we are serving Kenyans,” an officer who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation told the Nation.

The aggrieved policemen claimed that no senior officer had ever bothered to visit them to check on their welfare.

“Some of the officers were deployed here for the first time and are yet to visit their families since last year,” said another disgruntled officer.

Bandits take advantage of the rugged terrain to ambush the officers, most of whom are not familiar with the area.

DEPLOYED JUNIOR OFFICERS

A spot check by the Nation showed that the area has deep trenches caused by erosion over the years.

The killing of the AP officers brought to more than 50 the number of people killed in the area in the past three months alone, with fears that policemen are now targeted for execution.

Senior officers have been criticised for deploying juniors, some of whom had served in the police for less than six months, to the area.

The 19 AP officers reportedly made desperate calls for help from Nairobi for 30 hours but nobody assisted them.

AP officer Eric Mugendi, who survived the ambush that claimed 19 of his colleagues, said he has only God to thank for his escape.

“I have been an AP officer for the last one-and-a-half years, but I have never encountered such a bloody experience. I don’t know how I survived the bullets that rained on our lorry,” said Mr Mugendi.

Mr Mugendi, who sustained a fractured leg and hand during the shooting, said they were ambushed by heavily armed bandits.

Residents have already surrendered 24 illegal firearms, thanks to the efforts of Pokot elders, who have gone out of their way to talk to morans hiding in bushes.

At the same time, police officers have been deployed to two schools where learning has been paralysed due to insecurity in Baringo County.

County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo said Arabal and Kapindasum primary schools, which remain closed after pupils and their parents fled the area due to insecurity, will be re-opened and provided with enough security.

More than 4,000 residents who fled their homes are now appealing for relief food.

Mr Okwanyo said the World Food Programme is providing help in areas worst hit by drought in the county. It is also assisting residents affected by insecurity in Baringo South and Baringo North sub-counties.

“Part of the relief food will be distributed to schools. Affected families have been camping at various primary schools, churches and in open places across the county. We urge them to go back as we have restored peace,” Mr Okwanyo told the Nation on the phone.

He said the families had already received over 500 bags of maize, beans and rice.

The official appealed for more relief food for 2,517 families.

He said the scramble for limited resources following the onset of the dry spell was fuelling conflict between pastoralists.