Police disrupt meeting by MP Lempurkel

Police officers led by Laikipia North OCPD on Monday, November 28 disrupted a meeting organized by area Member of Parliament, Matthew Lempurkel, and attended by Samburu Governor, Moses Lenolkulal, and Samburu North MP, Alois Lentoimaga, among others leaders.

Police stormed in minutes after the meeting had taken off ordering the leaders to leave saying they could not allow it to proceed since there is a police operation currently underway in the area.

“Disperse! There should be no meeting here, we don’t want to see anyone, get into your vehicles and leave. There is an operation going on and we are not going to allow anyone to hold a meeting here,” shouted the OCPD.

Lempurkel had convened the meeting to discuss the recent skirmishes that erupted in Laikipia County pitting communities living in the area.

The leaders faulted the police and Interior Cabinet Secretary, Major Gen. (Rtd.) Joseph Nkaissery, over the operation calling it hell-bent against the members of Samburu Community residing in Laikipia County.

They demanded that CS Nkaissery orders immediate abandonment of the operation, threatening to take legal action if the CS does not heed to their demands.

“We will not just sit and watch as our people are being beaten, their livestock taken away forcefully without their permission and raping of women in the full glare of their children and husbands, it is shocking,” said Governor Lenolkulal.

Lenolkulal said that Samburu people are legitimate residents of Laikipia County and ought to be respected and protected.

“Our Constitution gives every Kenyan a right to stay anywhere within the country. In Samburu County, we have people from all tribes. Why are we being told that we should not live in Laikipia yet we have property and investments there?” wondered Governor Lenolkulal.

The agitated governor said that the unrest in Laikipia County is fueled by interests in the 2017 elections and competition over land and pasture.

MP Lempurkel criticized CS Nkaissery for ordering him to never again set foot in his office. He told the CS that he is elected to represent the interest of the people of Laikipia North.

“If the CS does not want people to visit his office he should resign. That is a public office, it doesn’t belong to his mother,” said Lempurkel.

Lempurkel was engaged in a scuffle with nominated MP Sarah Korere at a meeting convened by Nkaissery in his Harambee House office to find peace in Laikipia County.

The MP is out on cash bail in two different cases before a Nairobi Court and a Nanyuki Court for physically assaulting Korere and for breach of peace respectively.

Reporting by Johnston Keti