The rising cases of insecurity on the Nakuru-Narok border that has left six people dead including four minors in the last one month has been attributed to a killer gang on the loose. Now Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui and his Narok counterpart Samuel Tunai have backed security officers to flush out the gang that has been operating in Mauche and Entiani areas. This came as a high-powered security team from the two counties and the political leaders identified cattle rustling as one of the main causes of the increased cases of inter-community clash. Two weeks ago, raiders from Narok killed three minors in Mauche area in retaliation to the killing of one of their own in the troubled area.
Speaking in Lake Naivasha Resort after a meeting between security and political leaders, Governor Kinyanjui warned that if uncontained the clashes would spread to other areas. He noted that currently, farming and business opportunities had been adversely affected by the perennial conflict involving the Maasai, Kikuyu. Kipsigis and Ogieks. “We have lost so many people to this gang and it was time that the security officers flushed them out and arraigned them in court,” he said. Kinyanjui added that in the coming days, they would engage leaders in the grassroots with a view of establishing a lasting solution to the bloody clashes. “No one has been sent by his community in the clashes and we are calling on members of the public to assist police with information on this killer gang,” said the Nakuru Governor.
On his part, Governor Tunai said that the clashes revolved around pastures, water and cattle rustling along the border of the counties. While condemning the killings that have been going on Tunai said that they would fully back the security officers in their operations to deal with the criminals. He admitted that the recent clashes where three minors were killed had adversely affected operations in the area with residents living in fear. “The clashes have been contributed by a few individuals out to cause havoc on the border of the two counties and we shall work with security officers to deal with them,” he said. On his part, Narok North Mp Moitalel Ole Kenta revisited the killing of the three minors in retaliation terming it as barbaric and inhumane. “We condemn what has been going on in the last couple of weeks as this has adversely affected the economy of the region due to a small group of criminals,” he said.