Baringo: Residents of the banditry-prone Baringo North constituency are urgently appealing for humanitarian assistance after depleting their supplies and foodstuffs due to ongoing insecurity issues. The locals are calling on both the national and county government, as well as well-wishers, to provide relief food and medical assistance.
According to Kenya News Agency, Richard Chepchomei, an elder from Chemoe in Bartabwa Ward, highlighted the dire situation in areas bordering Tiaty constituency, which are experiencing increased banditry, cattle rustling, and significant mosquito infestations. Chepchomei, speaking outside the Baringo County Information Office in Kabarnet town, named areas such as Ngaratuko, Kagir, Chemoe, and Yatia, where roads are only passable with police escort, forcing residents to flee to safer locations.
The ongoing insecurity, coupled with prolonged rains, has left displaced victims without basic necessities such as food and shelter. They also face the risk of contracting water-borne diseases from consuming untreated water. Chepchomei urged the national and county governments, along with other stakeholders, to provide relief food, medicine, and tents for those lacking shelter.
Chepchomei also cautioned politicians against making inciteful statements that could worsen the situation. He emphasized the importance of unity and peace among the warring communities, as development is hindered without it.
Titus Kipsoi highlighted the trauma experienced by residents living in volatile areas, as they witness their kin being killed or injured, leaving them impoverished due to disrupted daily life. Kipsoi called on humanitarian organizations like the Kenya Red Cross Society and World Vision to support affected schools, ensuring that learners in areas such as Ngaratuko, Kosile, Yatia, Chepkesin, Tuluk, and Kesumet can continue their education.
The elders lamented the disruption of learning and abandonment of roads, such as the Lemuyek-Yatia-Chepkesin road, which has been unused for over a decade due to insecurity. Kipsoi stressed the need for the Tugen, Pokot, and Ilchamus communities to collaborate with security agencies to establish lasting peace in the region.