Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has allayed fears about the unending conflicts and cattle rustling in the Keyio Valley between the locals and cattle rustlers.
Speaking during the funeral service of former Baringo Deputy Governor Charles Kipngok at Solian Girls High School, Eldama Ravine, Baringo, Gachagua further said that that will be a very trivial issue once the new administration (in which he is the second in command) stamps its authority by appointing new security chiefs and shuffling others.
“This small work of security is my mandate, it’s not President’s mandate. I will personally call the meeting of Kerio Valley leaders and all security officers and I will be the chairman,” Gachagua said.
Banditry and cattle rustling has been a thorn in the flesh of the Keiyo Valey residents for years without counting. For many years now, a lot of displacements have taken place – with children and women most affected when skirmishes occur. The situation has always been even worse whenever there are national examination exercises.
In other instances, some of them have always been forced to sit their exams under tight security watch – even as others would be relocated to other safer areas.
The DP has reiterated that he would fast-track the disarmament in the area and that it would soon be a thing of the past. “We will talk until we reach at a consensus. Where we are required to deploy police reservists, we shall deploy them,” he said.
The main reason behind the perennial conflicts and cattle rustling in the rift has been the lack of water and pasture. “The water issue which has been the cause of conflict, farming, and schools, we must look for a permanent solution,” the DP said.
If decisive action will be taken by the new Ruto-led administration, then banditry and cattle rustling will indeed be a thing of the past.
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