Provide Psychological Support To Victims And Families Affected By Bandit Attacks, Says Religious Leaders

LAIKIPIA,Kenya, Oct, 16 – For more than a month the Government has deployed a multiagency security team in the troubled Laikipia county in a bid to restore normalcy in the wake of incessant banditry attacks.

Though security remains heightened, religious and non-governmental organisations are calling on the government to provide crucial psychosocial support to victims and families affected and displaced in the wake of conflicts in Ol-Moran division of Laikipia County.

Hundreds of residents are now said to be battling trauma despite returning to their homes – Some say that an attack could still be launched against them at any time.

“The majority of the families are either affected directly or indirectly by the conflicts,” Said Fr. John Nene, the Director of the Caritas Nyahururu.

“Some of the victims had their kin shot and killed while others sustained various injuries during the banditry attacks….. and livestock thefts, while many other farmers had the crops destroyed by illegal herdsmen who drove their animals into their farms leaving a trail of destruction,” He said.

The religious leader spoke during the unveiling of a program to support affected families with food aid and other non-food items.

The chaplaincy is now set to provide psychological counselling to families who lost their relatives during the attacks.

“The program will go a long way to also encourage young children to go back to school,” Said David Kimilu, the Ol-Moran Sub county Administrator.

As part of the security operation, the Laikipia county administration and the National government have helped residents reconstruct their homes in the wake of the chaos.