Aston Lukoye
In Laikipia North, next to a police station, armed robbers recently raided the residence of Francis Ole Kaparo, a former speaker of the National Assembly.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, April 4, the former speaker disclosed that a group of 20 guys who left with 17 camels also attacked a 58-year-old man.
Kaparo’s home was one of six others raided in the area in the past week, despite an ongoing joint Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and police operation.
“That man did not commit any crime. He was just doing his job. All this is happening at a time when we are being told that there is an operation to end banditry in this area.
“We are all getting reports on TV and Radio but we have not seen any officers here.” Ole Kaparo stated.
The raiders who allegedly originated from Samburu County are believed to have worked with neighborhood informers before the attack.
According to Bernard Odino, the deputy county commissioner for Laikipia, ten camels were recovered on Tuesday afternoon as they were being transported to Samburu East.
Ole Kaparo blamed the rise in attacks on the government, claiming that the Ministry of Interior’s constant warnings had merely given the robbers more motivation to carry out riskier raids.
“They have been enabled by empty threats of government and they will continue to attack and kill us.
“We want to ask the government that if you do not have any power or intention to deal with this issue, please stop threatening these bandits because they will continue killing us,” he explained.
On Sunday, March 12, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued a vacation order to all civilians residing in a number of banditry-prone locations that had been designated as crime scenes.
He continued by stating that anyone that would be found in such regions on March 13, 2023, would be considered a bandit or a suspect aiding and abetting banditry and would be handled as such.
Director of Peace of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret Fr Walter Cheboi urged the fighting communities to maintain peace and uphold human life as it was sacred.
“We as the agents of peace call for people to be peaceful and mediators of peace,” Fr Walter urged.
