Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi has announced plans to hold a series of peace meetings and initiatives to contain the runaway insecurity in the troubled County.
He said security agencies in the county had lined up a series of peace initiatives in response to the deteriorating security situation in the banditry-prone areas including Baringo North and Marigat.
He assured the disillusioned residents that he would use all means and resources within his powers to ensure the insecurity menace is ended and communities live in peace.
Addressing demonstrators in Kabarnet town central business district (CBD) Wednesday protesting the brutal killing of a blind teacher at Kagir by marauding bandits last Saturday, the governor said it was imperative to reconcile the warring communities to minimize unnecessary conflicts.
Governor Cheboi accompanied by his deputy Eng Felix Kimaiyo, county assembly speaker Vincent Kemboi and majority leader Lawi Kipchumba said that the time has come for local national leaders to step forward and be part of the solution to the hostilities which has frustrated peaceful co-existence and development of the regions.
“Soon I am planning for a series of meetings in the most hit areas of Bartabwa and Saimo Soi in Baringo, neighbouring Tiaty and Baringo South. We must sit down with residents and leaders and ask ourselves what is the root cause of the killings and conflicts. What can be done to put an end to the menace? We cannot continue watching our people killed and others inflicted permanent injuries, “he stated.
He hailed the county security team led by county commissioner Stephen Kutwa and county police commander Julius Kiragu for trying their best to restore sanity though some of them were almost losing their lives last week after being sprayed with bullets by the daring criminals.
He urged all stakeholders to embrace teamwork and unite in ending the vice which has brought untold suffering to households resulting in many widows, orphans, and disabilities in the affected areas.
The demonstration led by MCAs and teacher unions engaged security officers in running battles along major streets for the better part of the morning and afternoon disrupting the smooth flow of traffic and businesses.
An attempt by the police officers to fire gas canisters at the crowd arguing that they were mourning their beloved ones was in vain as they demanded a stop to the killings by marauding bandits.
The demonstrations were sparked by the shooting of a blind head teacher of Kagir, Thomas Kibet, Tuluk primary deputy head Elijah Simotwo, and six others in Baringo North.
The late Kibet who had been spearheading peace initiatives between the warring communities was going for his Form One child orientation ceremony at a neighbouring secondary school with his wife when they were ambushed by the armed criminal elements who shot and killed him on the spot.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Baringo branch executive secretary Bishop Joshua Cheptarus while condemning the sustained attacks and killing of teachers petitioned the government to compensate families of those killed and maimed by bandits since most of them have been deprived of their breadwinners.
Bishop Cheptarus described the killing of Kibet, a blind professional teacher as barbaric, primitive, inhuman, and immoral wondering how a sound human being can pull a trigger on a person who cannot even save himself.
The executive secretary who is also serving as Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK) Kabarnet town bishop appealed to the government to pay fees for the children of the two gallant teachers and other victims felled down by disgruntled criminals since they have lost their beloved fathers.
“We ask the government of President William Ruto to compensate the families of the gallant teachers killed for no apparent reason. Imagine a sensible person in his right sense killing a blind teacher who cannot scan his environment. It is barbaric and inhuman to shoot a disabled teacher who is serving humanity,” he lamented.