Banditry: Pokot South MP David Pkosing accuses Kindiki of bias
Pokot South lawmaker David Pkosing has accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Professor Kithure Kindiki of staying away from his constituency in the government’s peace mission visit to the war-torn area.
The MP said the Pokot community and its leaders have not been called by the CS to engage them on the insecurity that has left hundreds of residents leaving their homes.
“Government has not even stepped into West Pokot to come and talk to us. The senior leadership of security has never stepped in West Pokot to ask anything,” MP Pkosing said.
He added that the CS has been visiting other communities affected by banditry in the northern part of the country, including Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu, and to Turkana.
The MP who has been grilled by the detectives regarding the insecurity in the volatile area has insisted that the government should stop perceiving the Pokots as criminals first by creating a business-friendly environment.
He urged the government to invest in education in Pokot, which will prevent the youths and children from carrying guns at a young age.
According to the MP, the government should create camps for the military in the area which will not only restore peace but help in community development.
“The army will build roads, will build hospitals the way President Kibaki did. Kibaki brought the best kind of operations which is, when you are doing operation disarming people, provide for them alternative livelihood so that they don’t go back.”
Bandits continue to wreak havoc in the area despite the presence of the new anti-banditry formed to drive the bandits out, known as the Land and Air Team (LAT).
Over the weekend, more than 2,000 livestock were stolen in Masol, which is located on the border of Turkana and West Pokot counties.
President William Ruto said that his administration will not tolerate any form of banditry, promising to open up the area for investment and development.
The President had asked the Interior CS to pitch the camp in the northern area until peace is restored.
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