On Tuesday, February 7, Bishop Dominic Kimengich of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret has called for peace in the Kerio Valley region. The Bishop who spoke on Tuesday, February 7, when he paid a courtesy call to Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Hon. Wisley Rotich, asked President William Ruto to be tough, adding that religious leaders cannot restore peace in the region alone.
Bishop Kimengich appealed to all leaders to unite and speak a common voice that would also unite the warring communities.
“As the church, we are ready to work closely with all the communities to have a long-lasting peace because this issue has caused a lot of pain. We need to talk to each other and find a common path that will unite us,” Kimengich said.
He called on the people living in Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet counties to maintain calm as the government works towards bringing peace.
“I want to request the government that since it has the state machinery on the ground at its disposal, it should now move with speed and ensure that stern action is taken against the culprits,” adding that, the time had come for all the suspects behind the banditry to be arrested and prosecuted.
According to reports, the attackers have made away with an unknown number of animals, while left others dead.
Speaking on Monday, February 6, while issuing out a public accountability statement after 100 days in office, the Interior CS said that security teams across the affected counties engaged in various operations to recover the remaining livestock.
“Security teams across these counties are actively tracing the missing 40 per cent of stolen livestock as law enforcement agencies monitor the meat supply chain across urban areas in the Country to disrupt the existing criminal food-chain,” Prof. Kithure Kindiki said.
The Interior CS promised radical measures to end banditry in the area and tighten security along the Keriovalley.
