Government
must address bandit attacks in Kitui
 |
| Photo/Internet Sources |
By MWINGI
TIMES EDITORIAL TEAM
Entire households are staring at nail-biting banditry danger
in Kitui County in the face of sharp violence escalation which left four dead.
Children and women bear the brunt of the conflict as is
anywhere in the world. Amid all the tension the question is where is the
national government under whose mandate is the security docket?
Ngomeni and Nguni wards are claimed
to be the theaters of banditry according to local sources.
Consequently, children in the affected areas cannot reopen their
schools neither can their teachers serve them owing to the mortal fears of
bandit attacks.
HARD AND
PAINFUL DECISIONS
Families had to make hard and painful decisions of leaving
the only place they have known as home for years.
Coming against the backdrop of failed crops, the families
have to put up with hiding in the bushes, health centers, churches and police
bases in empty stomachs and relentless hunger pangs.
Water and grazing lands across Kitui and Tana River counties
remain contested among inter border neighbors but the calm is no longer easy. About
2500 people have been affected by the New Year attacks.
The attackers were reportedly armed with AK-47 assault
rifles against locals only armed with bows and arrows. There is need to
increase the number of police officers deployed in the region and facilitating
them effectively to discharge the cardinal duty of government which is to
protect civilians.
Justice should be seen to be done with police investigating
the suspected assailants with a view to bringing them to justice. Leaders on
both sides of the communities should also watch their mouths to avoid dividing
the people especially now we are headed to general elections.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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