Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti has been urged to investigate the activities of twelve individuals alleged to be behind persistent banditry and cattle rustling menace in North rift region.
The call was made by Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong of West Pokot County and his Marakwet East counterpart Bowen Kangogo in Elgeyo Marakwet County respectively, who accused the 12 of coordinating deadly raids in the region.
Speaking in Tot area along the border of the banditry ravaged counties during a peace meeting, the two leaders asked Kinoti to move with speed and launch investigations into the activities of the 12 to check the rampant incidents of livestock theft in Baringo, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
The MPs claimed that the twelve individuals were roaming the affected counties and coordinating vicious cattle and banditry raids that resulted in the death of locals and displacement of hundreds of families.
“The insecurity problems being witnessed in the affected counties has been linked to the twelve individuals and we call upon the DCI boss George Kinoti to expedite the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the ring leaders of the criminal gang to prevent loss of more lives and property that has become the order of the day in the vast Kerio Valley,” said Lochakapong.
The law maker took issue with the security personnel deployed on the ground for failing to apprehend the criminal gang leaders, a trend he has attributed to escalation of criminal activities in the region.
“We are appealing to DCI boss George Kinoti to intervene by ensuring those found culpable of committing the crime like banditry and cattle rustling in the insecure region are arrested, prosecuted and jailed,” he said.
He expressed fear that the vice may get out of control if the government will take stern action against the perpetrators of the vice which has contributed to under-development in the region for decades.
Kangogo regretted that scores of families whose homes were attacked and several animals stolen along the border of Marakwet and Tiaty sub counties are yet to resettle due to fear of fresh attacks.
The sad situation, he claimed, was happening despite the deployment of administration and regular police backed by a team of anti-stock theft police units in the region.
“We just wonder why no single armed criminal has ever been arrested by the police officers despite the bandits carrying out their deadly raid missions in day time. Such actions are the one discouraging the citizens returning back to their abandoned homes since they have lost trust in the security personnel stationed in the region,’ said Kangogo.