LAIKIPIA, Kenya, Sep 5 – They say there is no place like home but what happens when the one place you consider safe is quickly turned into a battlefield?
On Sunday, and amidst weeks of violence in the volatile Laikipia county, hundreds of people fled their homes following the incessant flare-ups of violence being perpetrated by suspected bandits.
Ol Moran area basin has in recent weeks become the epicenter of the chaos that has resulted in the death of several people and the destruction of property of unknown value.
A day after the National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) held a series of meetings in order to review the security situation in Laikipia County, hundreds have expressed their dissatisfaction with the government for failing to protect them, instead deciding to abandon their homes.
Saturday evening, at least 50 homes were torched by suspected bandits at the 100-acre land Kisii Ndogo village.
Eloise Tumbo who abandoned his home with his family after their property was destroyed says that that was the only solution as they are constantly living in fear.
“The bandits stormed our homes and burnt our granny with hundreds of bags of maize destroyed just like that,” he said.
The residents have now resulted to seeking refuge in churches and police stations.
“The bandits said that they would evict us by force if the government does not present two men from a neighbouring community allegedly kidnapped this past Tuesday at Ol Moran market,” said Sebastian Maloti.
In an apparent retaliatory incident, two businessmen from the Ol Moran area were kidnapped while in a market at Churo area in Baringo county.
A ransom has also allegedly been demanded by their captors demanding that the other 2 kidnapped men are presented for a trade to occur.
The National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) has decided to change tact and send more boots to the ground after close to 10 deaths allegedly at the hands of marauding bandits in the area.
The breaking point came weeks after the government called for a ceasefire and the surrender of illegal firearms on Friday after a standard 8 pupil at Mirango Primary School sustained gunshot wounds on the leg after an unknown number of armed bandits descended on her home at Mirango village, firing indiscriminately.
The incident had occurred at around 7 pm on Thursday.
The victim’s father, Simon Gakuru said her daughter is in stable condition at the Sipili Nursing home.
During the series of attacks, 31-year-old Cyrus Gataka was shot dead after bandits raided his home in Ngare Naro village home.
Days earlier, a farmhand was also shot dead just a few kilometers in Ratia farm.
On Friday Interior PS Dr. (Eng.) Karanja Kibicho said the Government will change tact in its approach to insecurity in the county after various interventions it has deployed so far failed to restore peace.
The PS described the latest killing as the breaking point of the government’s patience.
“The Cabinet Secretary issued an order, but we haven’t seen the desired response. We have tried persuasion and diplomatic approaches in vain. The Regional Commissioner is on the ground negotiating on our behalf, but nothing positive seems forthcoming. This is a matter we are now taking very seriously,” he said.
Kibicho also questioned local leaders’ commitment to peace efforts in Laikipia and neighboring counties.
He regretted that the area leaders have previously frustrated peace efforts and warned that the Government will implement necessary decisions to be arrived at in Saturday’s meeting even if they are unpopular with the political class.
Area leaders however blamed police for not taking adequate measures to restore normalcy and apprehended suspect bandits.
Ol Moran area is among seven others gazetted by the government and classified as dangerous and unsafe.
Areas under government surveillance include the Laikipia Nature Conservancy owned by conservationist Kuki Gullman in Laikipia West, government-owned ranches; ADC Mutara ranch in Laikipia West and 80,000 – acre Kilmon farm, Mugie Ranch, Loisaba, and Kirimon Nature National Reserve in Laikipia North.
Recently in a meeting with Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya, area leaders faulted the government decision to withdrawn National Police Reservists saying armed bandits took advantage of the vacuum to terrorize residents.
Natembeya however announced plans by the government to redeploy the police reservists in a bid to reinforce the security team already running an operation on the ground particularly in areas classified as volatile.
“The motives of the armed criminals are to displace residents from their land…the government will however not allow this,” said Natembeya.
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