Baringo county residents have stated they will not welcome Deputy President William Ruto during his scheduled visit to the area.
Instead, they plan to attend the burial of a teacher who was killed by Pokot bandits amidst ongoing attacks in the region.
Protest and Demands ¶
Over 1,000 residents, including 300 teachers, protested in Marigat, stating that Ruto's visit would have no impact on their situation.
Joshua Cheptarus, the Knut Baringo branch executive chair, said that the residents would rather come together to bury the late Kapndasum teacher Philemon Kipkemoi than listen to Ruto's speech.
"We have already lost six people, including two teachers. We are expecting President Uhuru Kenyatta himself to come and address the serious issue – not his deputy," Cheptarus said.
Cheptarus added that the people have lost hope in the Jubilee government and that it would take the President's personal involvement to restore trust among the Baringo residents.
"It will take the heart and spirit of the President himself to come and restore trust of the Baringo residents," he said.
The residents chanted 'solidarity forever' and marched in Marigat town for about an hour, calling on the government to deploy the military to tackle insecurity in the area.
They claimed that police officers have been defeated as banditry intensifies and demanded that the government either disarm the Pokots or allow Baringo residents to possess guns for self-protection.
"We cannot continue burying our people every day. We need to be told if the government is defeated to disarm the Pokots then they can allow Baringo residents, including teachers, have their own guns to protect themselves," Cheptarus said.
Response from Officials ¶
Tekelon MCA Vincent Kiror called for a boycott of the DP's visit, citing unfulfilled campaign promises to end banditry.
"First of all, he has not fulfilled his 2013 campaign agenda that banditry will be a thing of the past," Kiror said.
County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo urged residents to let the government address the insecurity issues and announced plans to use force to drive back Pokot herders grazing their animals across the borders of Baringo North and South.
Okwanyo also assured that the government is committed to providing sufficient food and water to the hunger-stricken residents.
