Hundreds of families are fleeing from their homes in Nasolot sub–location along the border of West Pokot and Turkana Counties after fresh attacks that left two herders dead at Lami Nyeusi and over 200 livestock driven away.
A spot check in the area showed that many residents have started migrating to safer places as tension builds up. Insecurity has resurfaced in the area after two years of calm and peace.
Some of the passengers plying the Kapenguria-Lodwar highway were being escorted by police officers.
According to residents, more than 100 armed bandits from Turkana County laid an ambush at the top of Parkeywo hills in West Pokot County aiming to steal livestock.
They added that the cattle rustlers had surrounded the villages three
days before the killings, just monitoring the movements of people.
“We are fleeing with our children and livestock but we know where we are heading to is not even safe because they might stage raids anytime,” said Regina Chepray.
They urged the government to restore peace and end cattle rustling in the area since their children will not go to school because they fear more retaliatory attacks.
Wilson Lonoki head teacher Sarmach Primary school said the perennial cattle rustling has affected the education sector as Kambi Karaya and Nasolot nursery schools have been closed for years.
“We have struggled to open schools in this area but cattle rustling has deteriorated the efforts and the population of children who are no longer going to school is very high,” said Lonoki.
He added that the government has been slow to respond to such incidents and locals are left to protect themselves.
West Pokot acting County Commissioner Khalif Abdulahi confirmed that two people had been killed and a number of cattle stolen after the attack and more police officers had been deployed in the area to curb insecurity.
