Leaders from West Pokot County have raised concerns about the persistent insecurity issues in the region. The County and other border Counties, Elgeyo Marakwet and Turkana, have faced their fair share of insecurity issues, and even though peace meetings and pleas by leaders have been made time and time again, the problem persists. West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has said the national government officials shouldn’t try and control the insecurity issue through phone calls. He said the region isn’t on the same scale in etrms of access as the national government may perceive, “There is no neywtok,” he said, afte checking teh network covergae on his phone, “So we are not equal.”
West Pokot woman representative Lilian Tomitom said the residents of the Counties in the region love peace, but the insecurity problem is fronted by a few people. “Residents of Elgeyo Marakwet love peace, residents of West Pokot love peace and Turkana residents love peace.” She affirmed that the Counties want to live in peace.
Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto faulted the dedication of the Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to peace, saying initially he seemed dedicated to ensuring peace prevails in the region. “Even police officers are not patrolling the area currently….when cows are stolen right now there is nothing that can be done.”