Fresh cattle raids have resurfaced along the North Rift region (West Pokot-Turkana border), threatening to tear apart a peace accord between the warring communities of Pokots and Turkana.
This is after a 13-year-old boy, Kisang Lonyakaa, was shot and killed on the spot at Rumos area, North Pokot sub-County, by suspected bandits from the neighboring county of Turkana on Saturday, August 23.
Speaking to TV47 Digital hours after the incident, West Pokot Police Commandant Abdulahi Jiree said the bandits ambushed the village around 4 pm, attacking a group of children who were looking after their parents animals, killing one on spot while the other one sustained serious injuries before he was rushed to the nearby health centre for medical attention.
“Two children had gone to look after cattle and one was killed, another one, Mangoot Pusiecho aged 14, was seriously injured. We thank God that at the moment, he is out of danger,” he told TV47 Digital.
“We want the National Government through the Ministry of Interior to open up roads and networks in the area. We have a challenge to respond to attacks when called upon. We have liaised with our Turkana counterparts and we shall have a peace meeting this week,” he added.
According to residents, the recent runaway insecurity has been attributed to absence of security camps and stopping of large scale mining activities in the region.
Ombolion Chief Joseph Korkimul said that cattle rustling activities, fresh attacks and child abductions have resurfaced in the larger Turkwel region along the West Pokot and Turkana border point.
Charles Lokapel, a local, said that many have been killed in border disputes along the Turkwel region but the government had not shown any commitments to quell the violence.
“Insecurity at the border region has been so rife and we will not sit and watch our people die from these anti-social acts anymore,” he said.
Renewed cross-border cattle theft is a setback to recent efforts by both the community and non governmental organisations with support from national government to take the development of pastoralist communities of Turkana and Pokots
