assistance towards Baringo Banditry Victims

supporting victims of banditry since 2021.

Through our organization, New Dawn of Hope, we have reached out to the victims of banditry in Ngaratuko, Kagir, Yatia, Kosile and Chepkesin. We continue to identify with their suffering. We have received numerous requests, mostly for food donations, from people affected by the actions of bandits in the last few days.

this rainy season.

New Dawn of Hope is overwhelmed by these genuine and dire needs on the vulnerable groups mostly women, children and the elderly.

This is therefore an appeal for your kind assistance in alleviating the suffering of these people who are currently facing starvation.

work directly with New Dawn of Hope Organization to call or inbox me via 0727908262 for more information.

I been this journey of

Furthermore, for fear of being attacked by the bandits, some of these people live in makeshift structures away from their homes. Clothing and mosquito net donations would be greatly appreciated, especially during

You can give them hope by donating through our paybill number 8048827 - Baringo Banditry Victims.

We also appreciate direct donations of Foodstuff, clothing, tents and medical supplies with arranged transportation by the Organisation.

Those who would wish to

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By Rural Times Team

Daring armed bandits continue to take over volatile valleys of North Rift region despite government employing a raft of measures to arrest the situation.

Key among them being government deployment of heavily armed Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers early this year to combat and assist police officers pursue the notorious bandits and cattle rustlers.

“We will use land means and choppers to pursue, smoke out and flatten all the caves harboring bandits” Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki said.

Kindiki who has been visiting the bleeding North Rift imposed a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in some banditry-hit areas as operation began.

He reiterated that government is committed to ensure banditry comes to an end, peace be restored and communities engage in meaningful economic activities.

Furthermore Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale gazetted deployment of KDF to North Rift Counties in February 2023 with firm promise to bring to an end the menace.

Extra Killings

But even with the stringent measures put in place, armed have further rolled up their sleeves to fight both government and innocent locals.

So they dozens of people have lost their lives as bandits show their might by storming villages, shooting and displacing families among them women and children.

Worst hit areas are Baringo, Turkana, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Samburu counties.

In a span of a week, four people shot dead by bandits were buried in Kagir, Chepkowel and Ng’aratuko villages in Baringo North. Over 40 people were killed in the area since last year.

New Dawn of Hope, Non-Governmental Organization founder Joan Jemutai said hardly a day passes without gunshots are heard in lower parts of Baringo North and Baringo South bordering Laikipia and Elgeyo-Marakwet.

“So far over 800 families have been displaced, forced to live desperate lives in makeshift structures in the bushes” Jemutai said.

She said apart from families, children have also been drawn out of classrooms after over 15 schools were closed owing to runaway insecurity.

Jemutai said the victims are urgently in dire need of humanitarian aid such as food, drugs and clothing from government and well-wishers.

“As an organization we are overwhelmed by these genuine and dire needs on the vulnerable groups mostly women, children and the elderly” she said.

At the same time, residents at Turkwel belt along West Pokot -Turkana border have also been displaced after resurfacing of fresh banditry attacks and cattle rustling amid ongoing security operation.

Last week five people were shot dead and one injured by suspected bandits from the neighbouring Turkana County.

Those killed are two couples and a man while one woman managed to escape with injuries while resting under a tree in a bush after coming from mining gold in Lami Nyeusi, West pokot.

The incident has happened despite the ongoing joint operation by the KDF and Kenya police.

Several villages and trading centres remain deserted as locals flee for safety.

The villages affected are Orwa,Lami Nyeusi,Kambi Karaya ,Lous,Masol and Sarmach among others.

Locals now fearing for their lives are calling upon government to lift ongoing operation saying it has not bore any fruit in the area.

West Pokot Deputy Governor Robert Komolle calls for peaceful co-existence in the region.

Komolle said residents who are sleeping in bushes have been bitten by mosquitoes, contracted diseases like pneumonia and malaria.

He urged the government to end cattle rustling and restore peace in the area since several children are out of school for fear of more retaliatory attacks.

Furthermore, he appealed to Government to set up a police stations at Lami Nyeusi,Romos, Chesegon ,Amolem and Ombolion areas.

West Pokot county commissioner Apollo Okello has condemned the incident saying his office is moving with speed to build more police stations in the area and increase patrols urging residents to remain calm.

Despite the deployment of KDF banditry have escalated in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, latest being killing of two medics last month.

Salina Jeruto who was a nurse aide at Endo Mission Hospital in Marakwet East Sub County was shot dead by suspected bandits on her way while heading home.

Titus Kandie a Lab Technician was shot dead while herding stock at a grazing field.

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Elgeyo-Marakwet Secretary General Benson Biwott threatened to down their tools in the region after the deadly attacks.

Baringo County Women Representative in the National Assembly Hon Florence Jematia expressed disappointment over what she refers to as failure by the government to stop cattle rustling and senseless killings.

‘’I am saddened by the government failure to stop the killings’’ Jematia said. She spoke during a burial of a bandits attack victim at Kapkomon, Baringo North.

She said she is determined to sponsor a motion in parliament to ensure the Laws of Kenya can classify and treat cattle rustling as terrorism.

“I was earlier arrested for speaking against banditry and I am still ready to be rearrested for speaking loudly on fight against cattle rustling” Jematia said.

In the same funeral, Richard Chepchome, a Baringo North political activist dismissed military plans to build water dams and roads as a mechanism to arrest the runaway insecurity in the region.

‘’Development projects cannot solve the problem of cattle rustling in Baringo. We demand disarmament and an immediate arrest of criminals whose names have already been forwarded to the government security apparatus’’ Chepchome said.

While addressing a school event, Baringo North Member of Parliament (MP) who was former North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) Director said as leaders, they have already shared crucial information and ideas with the government.

“Sharing of issues security in public will not benefit us anything it is now incumbent upon government to act upon the agreed resolutions” Makilap said.