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Banditry: Guns go silent as government, partners commence development

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Mathias journey from banditry-prone Kenyan village to American University

Hungry bandits attack victims waiting to be served relief food courtesy of office of First Lady Rachel Ruto and Peacenet-Africa. JOSEPH KANGOGO

Peacenet-Africa CEO James Kandagor addressing recent peace meeting at Kabirwok, Baringo North-Tiaty border.

Sigh of relief as government sets up raft of measures to stop banditry, restore peace in North Rift. The menace persisted since 1970s and escalated from the onset of millennium, year 2005 to date...Story page 2

2023 Budget Approved, Amid Azimio’s Dismisal

BY JOSEPH KANGOGO

The Finance Bill has spiked a row between the Kenya Kwanza Government and the opposition. The opposition claim that the Finance Bill will make the cost of living unbearable due to the high taxation.

On the other hand, according to the government imposing taxes on people will help bring revenue, for the government to be able to run as expected. Read More on page 3

He narrates his story of being born and raised as a victim of frequent attack by gun-wielding bandits, balancing challenges of harsh drought, water crisis, food shortage, education and his athletics career.

Read More on page 14.

Flooded Baringo Sec in Recovery Process, Seeks Funds For Completion

Read More on page 3.

Continued from page 1

BY JEREMIAH CHOGE

Granny Kimoi Chelal, 84, from banditry-prone Chemoe village, Baringo North Sub-county can now afford at least nights of sleep.

Kimoi, alias Kokop Jepkemoi, had lost hope and even surrendered her life to armed bandits saying she has grown old and fallen weak after many years of running to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps while fleeing bandits.

"From today, if the bandits strike again, I am ready to face them and die because I am already growing old, weak and helpless, I can nolonger manage to run and hide” Chelal said.

She said for over 30 years she has been a fugitive in her own country, saying she is now ready to face the bandit's bullet.

But finally it is a sigh of relief for her as the government finally puts on a raft of measures to silence the guns and restore back peace.

Banditry has reigned in the North Rift since the 1970s and escalated in the onset of the millennium, 2005 to date.

Kimoi is among thousands of people, among them the elderly, women and children displaced by bandits in volatile Baringo North and Baringo South Sub-counties.

Hope

At least guns have go silent, government and partners are already showing commitment of getting down to help end banditry and restore peace among warring pastoral communities in North rift and its environs.

Currently Borders Community Peacenet-Africa (BCP-A) in partnership with the office of First Lady Her Exellency Rachel Ruto is committed to spearheading Anti-Cattle Rustling Program.

BCP-A CEO Dr. James Kandagor says the Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO), doesn't use guns, instead they are looking for possiblle ways to transform the lives of people.

"Currently we have reached out to preach and foster peace across 33 volatile counties across the country, through rigorous development" Kandagor said.

He said the program funded by partners and government of Kenya targets to open up and connect the volatile regions to the civilized world.

Kandagor noted ongoing opening up of multimillion security roads, sinking and drilling of pan dam and boreholes and construction of police Anti-Stock Theft unit structure at Kabirwok, Baringo North-Tiaty border.

"We are aiming at converting the diserted once-a-battle field into a city status, afterwich it will see locals and all Kenyan communities come together to do business" he said.

He said the project has bore fruits as it has historically seen over 5000 warring Tugen and Pokot pastoral communities converge to share relief foodstuff, interact and even spend the nights together.

"What a joy, the narrative has now changed from locals fleeing their homes to resuming back while the armed bandits run away into hiding" Kandagor said.

He says the idea also looks at creating a peaceful environment to see opening up several frequently disturbed and temporarily closed schools in the area due to insecurity among them; Chepkesin, Tuluk, Chemoe, Yatia, Mukutani, Kapndasum, Kasiela, Kinyach, Arabal, Noosukro, Rugus, Mochongoi, Kapkechir, Sirata and Kiserian.

The CEO further said completion of a 3kilometre Road by BCP-A organisation aided erection of Safaricom mast network connectivity at Kasogot Hill, Bartabwa, Baringo North.

Kandagor said similar activities are ongoing along Kerio valley, Kinyach and Kolowa porous border of Elgeyo-Marakwet, Baringo and West Pokot Counties.

He appeals to the government and partners to consider distributing foodstuff to the starving residents and allocating funds to develop and invest in the expansive regions

"Government can now utilize the peaceful moment as an opportunity to easily pursue the bandits and seize the illegal guns" Kandagor said.

During a recent visit, Pastor Edward Ng'aira, peace crusader from the office of First lady Rachel Ruto to inspect the ongoing projects, he called upon residents to embrace peace and shun cattle rustling.

He lauded the government for ongoing security operation saying it should last until the last gun and bullet is repossessed.

"I have noted since the operation started, majority of the bandits have surrendered their guns and opted venturing into other benefitial businesses, others should follown suit" Ng'aira said.

Early this year Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Professor Kindiki Kithure promised saying government shall pitch tent until entire menace gets over and ensure all communities coexist in peace.

"Being our commitment, we shall use both land and choppers to pursue the notorious armed criminals into their hideouts" Kithure said.

He reiterated President Dr. William Ruto’s adminstration commitment to bringing peace and stability to North Rift region, warning to bandits that their days were numbered.

CS Kindiki however apologized to families who lost their loved ones, property and rendered homeless.

He also called for collective efforts by partners to help end the criminal act and emphasized on the government's commitment to use necessary force to seize illegal firearms.

The CS further condemned political leaders who incited violence through negative rhetorics and assured the public that these individuals would face full force of the law.

He was speaking at a peace and security meeting in Sarmach, Turkwel.

CS Kindiki acknowledged recent incidents of violence and called for an end to such acts that endanger the lives of residents.

To tackle the security situation, the CS announced the establishment of seven new divisions and the deployment of additional security personnel in the Pokot-Turkana border area.

He also directed the reopening of the Konyao one-stop border crossing to facilitate trade and movement.

Additionally, the Ministry of Interior pledged support for the reconstruction of a security road connecting Turkwel to Kasei, aiming to uplift development in the region and combat insecurity.

CS Kindiki instructed his security team in Kapenguria to fill vacant positions of Chiefs and assistant Chiefs to strengthen governance and law enforcement at the grassroots level.

Regarding education, the CS announced the immediate reopening of schools, with necessary security measures in place.

He also allocated Ksh. 100 million for the reconstruction of schools that were closed due to insecurity, with support from the Kenya Defense

Forces (KDF) and the National Youth Service (NYS).

To enhance security patrols and combat banditry, the government planned to assign additional National Police Reservists (NPR) and establish security personnel units (formed camps) in the affected region.

The CS proposed the gazetting of Embotut Forest as a disturbed area due to security concerns.

Governor Simon Kachapin highlighted the relatively low crime rates in the region and stressed the need for border peace.

He proposed the establishment of a police station at Lami Nyeusi and called for equal distribution of National Police Reservists (NPRs) among all communities.

Deputy Governor Robert Komolle urged leaders to unite and find solutions, emphasizing that without unity, peace would remain elusive. He criticized leaders who made inflammatory speeches and called for the arrest of those inciting violence.

To enhance peace efforts, he announced the establishment of a General Service Unit (GSU) camp in Chesogon, aiming to bring peace and stability to an area plagued by cattle rustling, conflicts, and violence.

The CS also pledged support for elders involved in peace initiatives, emphasizing the ministry's assistance in their efforts. In addition, he declared Embotut Forest, known as a hideout for criminals, as 'disturbed,' signaling a crackdown to flush out criminals from the area.

To ensure the resumption of normalcy, CS Kindiki ordered the reopening of schools that had been closed due to insecurity, with the assurance of police protection for the schools.

Deputy Governor Robert Komolle emphasized the importance of peace in the border area, stating that without it, the communities would not be able to fully utilize the abundant resources in the region. He urged the communities to find common ground and work together to achieve lasting peace.

The border meeting, attended by Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Wesley Korir, Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong, Tiaty MP William Kamket, County Assembly Speaker Fred Kaptui, and others, served as a platform for initiating a journey towards lasting peace along the borders of the two counties, aiming to put an end to the reign of banditry and terrorism.

The Kerio Valley has long been plagued by lawlessness, negatively impacting the socio-economic development of the region.

Continued from page 1

The voting of the Finance Bill took place on Tuesday June 14, 2023 in Parliament, with 257 Members of Parliament in attendance. 176 voted for the Bill while 81 voted against.

As much as Azimio’s stand was to vote against the Bill, two of its members voted for the Bill; Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris and Lang’ata Member of Parliament Felix Odiwour.

This caused an uproar by the Azimio Party Members claiming that some of their members were not loyal enough.

Similar to Azimio’s case, UDA’s Gathoni Wamuchomba voted against the Bill.

However, on June 16, 2023, the Nairobi Women Representative through a tweet defended her Membership in ODM. She says that although she is a loyal Party Member, people must be taxed to enable the government deliver its mandate.

“I’m still in Azimio, I have been in ODM since 2007 and I have supported Baba and he has also supported us as candidates. Any government cannot deliver services without money, the country has a huge debt at the moment. People must be taxed to enable the government deliver its mandate,” said the tweet.

Embakasi Member of Parliament Paul Ongili Owino alias Babu Owino commented how he was shocked to find out a majority of Azimio MPs didn’t show up for the voting even if they were against it. He however defended them by stating that there was a mishap on the voting dates.

“I realised that the speaker made some changes and ruled that voting was to take place on Wednesday. By that time, so many members were anticipating that voting will occur next week. That explains why so many members, especially from the Azimio Coalition missed the sitting,” he stated.

The Finance Bill was approved on June 15, 2023 in Parliament and the CS Treasury Njuguna Ndung’u read the 2023 budget. However, Azimio MPs staged a walk out of parliament as the CS commenced the reading, claiming that the Speaker Moses Wetangula had not followed the parliament’s procedure.

According to them, the Finance Bill voting was supposed to take place next week on Tuesday and not on June

14, 2023, therefore dismissed the 2023 Budget.

Speaking to the press, Babu Owino stated that the Azimio MPs walked out of parliament because the budget has been fuelled by the Financial Bill. “We are walking out of Parliament because the budget has been fuelled by the Illegal Financial Bill which increases the cost of living. The government ignored the plight of poor Kenyans,” he said.

However, According to CS Treasury, through the budget, the Kenyan Kwanza government has begun the journey to bring down the cost of living and improve livelihoods while at the same time fostering a sustainable, inclusive economic transformation.