Residents of Kainuk town near the Turkana-West Pokot border have fled farms, communal grazing fields and forests along River Malmalite where they engage in charcoal burning, following a bandit attack over the weekend.
The attack left three people seriously injured, while more than 1,700 livestock belonging to 58 families were driven away by the bandits.
Residents are now questioning their safety after surrendering illegal firearms in a government disarmament exercise, only to find themselves increasingly exposed to armed bandits who continue to raid villages, steal livestock and drive families from their farms. The raid has heightened tension in Kainuk, a border town between Turkana and West Pokot counties, with residents abandoning farms, communal grazing fields and forests along River Malmalite for fear of attacks.
Kainuk Senior Chief Sarah Lochodo, said the attackers escaped with more than 1,700 livestock belonging to 58 families, driving them towards Amolem in neighbouring West Pokot County.
The latest raid has revived questions about the effectiveness of the government's disarmament operation, with residents arguing that surrendering illegal firearms has not translated into greater protection from armed criminals.
Ms Wilmar Nakwan, a resident, said she had stopped visiting her farm along the banks of River Malmalite for fear of being attacked. She said bandits were also targeting farmers, charcoal vendors and motorists, making it increasingly difficult for residents to carry out their daily activities.
Some of the 20 illegal guns surrendered by civilians in Turkana South Sub County on May 9, 2023.
Photo credit: Sammy Lutta | Nation Media Group
“After heeding calls by the government to hand over illegal firearms, herders who are grazing in groups using sticks are now at the mercy of armed bandits operating from a gazetted South Turkana National Reserve. If the livestock are not recovered, more than 50 families will have lost their only source of livelihood,” she said.
Residents accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of failing to implement an effective disarmament operation targeting bandits in known hideouts.
County Police Commander John Tarus, however, attributed the renewed attacks partly to the presence of large numbers of livestock and herders in South Turkana National Reserve. He said this had contributed to frequent attacks between Kainuk and Kakong'u centres in Aroo Sub-County. Mr Tarus said security agencies would intensify operations to remove bandits, armed herders and livestock from the gazetted reserve.
“We have stepped up security patrols and escorts between Kainuk and Kakong'u to assure motorists of their security. We will also flash out livestock from the national reserve to ensure there is relative peace,” he said.
The security concerns have also drawn attention from local leaders at a time the government is preparing for the resumption of petroleum activities by December 1. Crude oil is expected to be transported by road through Kainuk to Mombasa, placing renewed focus on security along the corridor.
Turkana Woman Representative Cecilia Ngitit said residents of Turkana East and Turkana South constituencies were still undergoing a disarmament exercise conducted by Special Operations Group (SOG) officers. She said the government had a responsibility to protect communities that had surrendered illegal firearms.
“...It is so disappointing and sad to witness escalated insecurity in villages where locals have been disarmed by government agencies who are not protecting them from bandits or recovering livestock after attacks,” she said.
Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai also criticised the conduct of some SOG officers, accusing them of subjecting residents of Nakwamoru and Juluk villages to harassment and indiscriminate violence during the disarmament exercise. He alleged that force was being used against residents to extract intelligence or compel them to surrender illegal firearms.
The governor said Turkana leaders were seeking a meeting with the head of disarmament operations under SOG to present residents' grievances and discuss ways of ensuring the exercise was conducted peacefully.
Men armed with guns at Koyasa in the Elemi triangle in Turkana County on June 10, 2013.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“As leaders, we want to tell SOG officers conducting disarmament and security operations to concentrate on intelligence-led exercises but not the current one, where even National Police Reservists, children and women are harassed,” Mr Lomorukai said.
Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor said insecurity in his constituency, where petroleum activities are expected to resume in December, had deteriorated.
“We have lost people, livestock and many have fled from their ancestral land due to incessant attacks. We have internally displaced persons who are facing hunger and starvation after their livestock were driven away without being recovered by the multi-agency security team. I appeal for improved security before President William Ruto visits the area to commission the resumption of petroleum activities. I am not happy because we can't leave people vulnerable to attacks while the focus is on extraction of natural resources,” Mr Ngikor said.
Turkana South MP Ariko Namoit announced that he would lead a major demonstration on November 6 to demand urgent government intervention over insecurity in Aroo Sub-County. He said the decision followed unsuccessful attempts to resolve the concerns through several meetings with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen in Lodwar and Nairobi.
“As the Member of Parliament for Turkana South, I cannot remain silent when the lives, property and livelihoods of the people I represent are under threat. Our pastoralists deserve to live, graze their livestock and go about their daily activities without fear of attacks or losing their animals,” Dr Namoit said.
He also questioned the conduct of some security officers, alleging that some within the multi-agency team were undermining the operation and advancing the interests of financiers of renewed bandit attacks.
“I demand a thorough investigation into allegations that elements within the multi-agency team are collaborating with Pokot leaders and armed bandits to terrorise Turkana pastoralists,” he said.
Dr Namoit called for immediate security intervention to identify and remove armed individuals reportedly hiding inside South Turkana National Reserve. He said the reserve should not become a hideout for criminals terrorising communities along the border.
“The government must investigate reports of armed individuals from the neighbouring community operating within Turkana County and allegations that some security officers are aiding or protecting armed bandits. Security is not a favour that the government grants its citizens; it is a constitutional responsibility. The people of Turkana South pay taxes and deserve the same protection enjoyed by every other Kenyan,” he said.
