By Lerte Tellah – Samburu
Security officers in Pokot have successfully recovered a group of goats reportedly stolen during a Saturday night raid in the Kainuk area.
The goats, now being held at the Kainuk Police Station awaiting identification by their rightful owners, were located in the Marich area following a tip-off.
According to a police report, officers from Marich Police Station, led by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), alongside the Anti-Stock Theft Unit and police reservists, were following up on leads when they came upon the suspects herding the animals.
Upon the officers’ approach, the suspects fled into a nearby bush, abandoning the 14 goats, the report said. “The team recovered the goats and handed them over to Kainuk Police Station for identification by the owners,” the report stated.
The search for the culprits has intensified, with a multi-agency team ramping up patrols in the area.
This recovery occurs amid ongoing security challenges in the six counties prone to banditry, including West Pokot. A recent National Assembly report indicates that efforts to restore law and order in these regions have not achieved significant success.
The findings of an inquiry into the security situation in Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, and Laikipia revealed that certain areas within these counties continue to experience sporadic and recurring attacks, resulting in property destruction and loss of lives.
The report, from the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and National Security, highlighted several obstacles hindering government success, including limited resources, the spread of arms, commercialization of banditry, and challenging terrain. “Additionally, underlying socio-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, and limited access to essential services further contribute to the state of lawlessness in the region,” the report noted.
The inquiry, conducted over nine months from August 2023 to April 2024, aimed to assess the security situation in the affected counties, identify the root causes, and understand the factors driving the crisis. It also evaluated the effectiveness of government interventions since January 2023 to restore peace and normalcy in these regions.
As part of their investigation, the committee conducted a fact-finding mission to the six counties, engaging with county security committees, security forces, elected leaders, and affected communities.
In February 2023, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration declared the security situation in these six counties a national emergency.
