Suffering residents now turn
to governor Malombe in the wake of bandit attacks
 |
| Ukasi residents patrol their village after a recent bandit attack.Photo/Mwingi Times |
By MWINGI TIMES REPORTER
“We know security is
a function of the national government, but our MP has been less concerned, even
after the recent attacks,”
said Ms Tabitha Nzanzai a
resident of Kathungu village.
Residents of the remote
villages of Ukasi location, Kitui County now have turned their eyes on the
county government for a quick intervention following the bleak suffering
occasioned by spate of bandit attacks in the areas located near the volatile
border of Kitui and Tana River counties.
Speaking to the Mwingi Times they
called on Governor Julius Malombe to swiftly act in a bid to ensure that security
in the area is restored once and for all. They also called for relief food aid
to cushion the fleeing families from hunger.
Their cries came even as a section of the
leaders from the county called on the government to find a lasting solution to
the banditry menace which has since November last year claimed lives of five
people in the boundary areas of Mwingi Central and Mwingi North constituencies.
The agonizing locals accused their area MP
Joe Mutambu of neglecting them even during their most moment of need, adding
that their only hope was on the governor. They asked Dr Malombe to quickly take
their grievances to President Uhuru Kenyatta so that security would be deployed
in the area.
“We know security is a
function of the national government, but our MP has been less concerned, even
after the recent attacks,” said a resident of Kathungu village Ms Tabitha
Nzanzai.
She lamented that many of the residents have
in the recent weeks been having sleepless nights for fear of being invaded
again. “On Friday last week our shopping centre was nearly overrun by gunmen.
This has prompted many people to flee. The few who have been left behind, are
keeping vigilant day and night,” said Ms Nzanzai.
She said both men and women had abandoned
their chores of providing to their families, to persuade the bandits and others
in readiness to repulse the attackers in case they would pop.
“When a camel is killed or lost, a contingent
of armed policemen is always seen around. The officers relentlessly look for
the animal until they see it. But when a human life is lost the police always
claim there is no fuel or the area of the scene is inaccessible,” Ms Nzanzai
lamented.
POLICE NEGLIGENCE CITED
Another local Mr Mwangangi Mutangili said
illegal herders armed with rifles had encroached their land barring the locals
from accessing their farms. “I have lived here for 17 years but what is
happening now is very disturbing. For the first time we have not attended our
shambas neither can our children go to school,” said Mr Mutangili. He accused
the police of failing to protect them.
The locals claimed some highly profiled
individuals in government and politicians from northeastern Kenya counties
owned camels being grazed by their agents in the area. They also alleged some
Kitui leaders had conspired with the owners of the camels, a reason they
attributed to government’s laxity in handling the menace that has already left
14 people lifeless since 2013.
Following the recent attacks more than 2,000
fleeing families from Kathungu, Katangini, Sosoma, Kiio and Ngooni villages are
already facing abject starvation. “The government has forgotten us. I
have together with my 12 children slept on a empty stomach for three days
now because I can hardly settle my Sh 12,000 food debt which has accrued at the
local shop over the few weeks I have been camping here,” Mrs Kamene Muthengi
tearfully narrated her ordeal.
KITUI COUNTY GOVT BLAMED
Nguni ward Council of Elders chairman Mr
Simon Kasiva accused the county government leadership of turning a blind eye on
its people despite being aware of their predicaments.
“As the council of elders from this region of
Mwingi we wrote a letter to the governor about this bandit menace. People are
now being killed and even our land is at the verge of being possessed by people
from northeastern Kenya while you are watching,” he said.
Mr Kasiva threatened to lead a team of elders
to storm the county boss’s office in Kitui town if the governor would not have
“acted” by mid this week.
Meanwhile Mwingi North MP John Munuve and
Wiper party nominated lawmaker Bishop Robert Mutemi asked the national
government to move with speed to ensure the illegal herders are flushed out of
Kitui County.
The two legislators said the government had
the ultimate responsibility to ensure its people lived peacefully. Mr Munuve
however said the government had erected a temporary police post at Inyanzae and
normalcy was returning in those parts of Ngomeni division. He said families in
the area were returning home and learning would resume in four primary schools Monday
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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