Banditry: Clergy Urges Government to Own Up, Offer Humanitarian Help
By Joseph Kangogo
Religious leaders appeal to Kenyan Government to speedily offer humanitarian help to displaced victims of banditry in Baringo.
National Church Council of Kenya(NCCK) today
held an intense clergy consultative meeting at Full Gospel Churches of Kenya(FGCK) Marigat, Baringo South.
Led by Bishop Samuel Lebeliani, church leaders urge the government to take up responsibility for the runaway insecurity.
"Government should own up the mess for failure to protect its people and property," Lebeliani said.
He said people have not known peace since December last year, "armed bandits have killed over 10 people, including women and innocent children, injuring several others since January," he said.
The latest incident was a police officer, Simon Kandie, 40, who was shot dead while on leave, herding his goats in his Sibilo home, Baringo North. Over 300 goats were driven away.
Lebeliani also said thousands of people have fled their homes in Mukutani, Sibilo, Koiboware, Ng'aratuko, Kagir, Yatia, Arabal, Loruk, Kapsebeiwa, Akoroyan, Chepkewel, Koroto, Rondinin, Rormoch and Kosile in Baringo North and Baringo South.
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"Families have been displaced and were currently putting up in temporary structures in Mukutani, Sibilo, Sutiechum, Biretwonin, Koroto, Chebarsiat, Kipcherere, Marigat and Mogotio" he said.
The clergy, however, appeals to the government and well-wishers to fast track donation of relief foodstuff, tents, clothes, and drugs to cushion the victims against live-threatening dangers.
"As church leaders, we have escalated our advocacy to reach out to the warring communities to maintain peace and remain calm as government intervenes to find a lasting solution," he said.
Geoffrey Lekumbe, a visually impared local evangelist said last month a blind headteacher Thomas Kibet of Kagir Primary School in Baringo North, was ambusehd and killed while riding on a motorcycle with his wife and child heading to visit a student.
The clergy during their consultative meeting. Photo By Joseph Kangogo.
"It is so saddening to learn that banditry have gone to the extent of even killing people living with disabilities. This is so cruel," Lekumbe said.
On her side, Judy Kiket, community women leader, said amid displacement women, elderly and young children bear the brunt of suffering as they now spend outside in the cold, risking attacks by wild animals.
Kenya Red-Cross other emergency response urgencies are currently helping evacuate the victims with their livestock from risk zones to safer grounds.
Others were still locked up in their houses, fearing for their lives and crying for help while the gunwielding bandits keep on pushing in, killing and stealing people's livestock.
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