Banditry attacks threatening Samburu peace

Samburu North residents are calling upon National Government to launch a security operation in the area in order to disarm bandits whom they say are a threat to their security.

This is after a ten-year-old boy was killed, a man seriously injured and more than 1,000 heads of livestock stolen in three different cattle raids at Ngoriche, Suyian and Loilei areas in Samburu North within a week.

Andrea Lesoi, a resident, says they have suffered enough in the hands of the bandits and wants the national government to intervene.

“About ten bandits armed with guns ambushed us yesterday (Thursday, March 16) as we herded cattle and drove away with the whole herd. My family has been left with only one cow that could not walk after it was seriously injured by a bullet. We ask the government to declare security operation in this region,” said Lesoi.

“Stolen goats and cattle are being driven away by the same bandits who killed police officers in 2011 and stole their guns but the government has never done anything about it,” said a seemingly hungry Lopush Learoga, a resident of Baragoi town.

Area Member of Parliament, Alois Lentoimaga, urged Interior Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Nkaissery, to declare security operation in the affected areas in Samburu North just like he did in Laikipia County.

“Why are we using too much force in Laikipia ignoring here? What is so special about Samburu North that the decision of disarming bandits cannot be arrived at?” he posed.

Written by Ronald Kibet