Gov’t Called Out For Alleged Discrimination in Dealing With Insecurity Along Kerio Valley

By Benson Aswani,

The Government has been asked to take urgent measures and confront the criminals who continue to raid and steal livestock in the Kamelei area of West Pokot county.

According to the area residents, they are accusing the government of discrimination in dealing with the insecurity cases witnessed along the Kerio valley counties.

The residents protested on Thursday complaining on the lack of security in the area, while estimating the loss of losing their livestock at the hands of bandits from neighboring counties.

The residents led by Dickson Lodia, noted that despite the promises by the the government to maintain security in the area, the situation remains fragile as they are forced to live in fear of being attacked by bandits who take the stolen livestock to the Embobut forest.

“We have been singled out in this operation to deal with criminals who cause insecurity. Many times the government has been promising us to ensure that these criminals are faced but the situation has remained the same, there is no change,” said Lodia.

Likewise the residents are strongly blaming the police officers who are stationed at the health center in the area to provide protection saying that they do not offer any help for them, demanding that they be removed immediately and returned to the camp.

“There are police officers at the health center here in Kamelei but these people are not doing anything. People are attacking us and these are just here. Therefore, we want these policemen to be removed from here immediately and returned to the camp,” added Lodia.

However, amidst the chaos, Pokot South Deputy Commissioner David Bowen urged the residents to be patient as there are strategies to ensure their safety, including hiring 15 NPR officers who will be given guns to help police officers to strengthen security.

“I just ask the people here to be calm because we have plans to hire 15 NPR officers, who we will give them guns to help the police deal with these criminals,” said Bowen.