Residents urged to empower boychild to end banditry

Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet residents have been challenged to focus on the empowerment of the boychild as a strategy to end cattle rustling and perennial border clashes.

Leaders asked residents to ensure the boychild in the region is enrolled in learning institutions and other empowerment programmes so that they can stay away from guns and cattle rustling activities. 

Isaac Koskei, who is in charge of police reservists in the area, said empowering the boychild would go a long way in ending the cattle rustling menace.

Residents on the other hand urged leaders to start or support initiatives to build peace in the region.

John Seronei, a former councillor and community security committee member (Nyumba Kumi), said without peace there can be no development in the region.

“All we want is peace. We have good land but if there is no peace, we cannot make good use of it,” Serenoi stated.

The leaders made the remarks during the Sammy Kiplimo Foundation Peace Tournament in Arror, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Sammy Kiplimo who organised the peace tournament in conjunction with Elgeyo Marakwet County and Kenya Police Reserve, said the focus should be on three pillars; peace, climate change, boychild empowerment and wealth creation.

“Those in the cattle rustling business are using our boys to advance their illegal activities in this region and that must stop. We can only do that by identifying the root cause and dealing with it firmly,” said Kiplimo.

Religious leaders want residents engaged to deal with bandits.

Religious leaders led by Bishop Christopher Ruto of the Eldoret ACK Diocese averred that consultation and constructive engagement with the people would help in ending banditry in the region.

“We appreciate government efforts to deal with the banditry menace but we also believe that the role of the affected communities should be strengthened so that we find lasting peace in Kerio Valley,” Bishop Ruto said.