A row is brewing between leaders from the Pokot community and the security team working in West Pokot County. The leaders have demanded that the top County security team should be transferred from the area.
The leaders have faulted the security team for being behind the rampant extrajudicial killings, abductions and deteriorating insecurity in the region .
This comes after one person was killed and a number of cattle stolen at the troubled Chesegon area along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet border on Thursday .
On Friday, one man was abducted by unknown people at Sigor trading center.
The conflict played out in the open during the graduation ceremony at Chesta Teachers College in Sigor Constituency after the Pokot Central Sub County Deputy County commissioner Were Simiyu asked the leaders not to wash the dirty linen of insecurity in public.
However, in their response, members of parliament who were accompanied by area Governor John Lonyangapuo, who was the chief guest, accused the security team of being lax.
Lonyangapuo questioned the rampant abductions of residents by unknown people in the area, saying former Kapyegoh MCA Benson Kiptire is also a victim. “There is a demon at the Pokot–Marakwet border but the police should not fear to go there.”
Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong said that there is tension in the area and the government should move in and contain the situation .
“The government disarmed the Kenya police reservists….We don’t know the work of these security officers as they don’t help,” said Lochakapong.
He said that security officers who have overstayed in the area and engaging in illegal vices should be transferred. “Those with questionable characters and blamed should go. Some are corrupt and are killing people,” he said, adding that residents shouldn’t accept to board unknown vehicles, “Refuse and fight so that people can come and rescue you.”
Kacheliba MP Mark Lomunokol supported the sentiment, saying that residents should resist being arrested by strange people and they should rush to the police station to report. “Enough is enough, and the police are behind all the happenings. We have known that we have enemies in our midst,” added Lomunokol.
Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto accused the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and County security team for being behind the killings in the area. When contacted, West Pokot County commissioner Apollo Okello said the cases are under investigation .