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Lawmakers have blamed local politics working with criminals, cultural significance, inter communal conflicts and banditry as the reasons behind the insecurity in the six North Rift counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Laikipia.

In a report detailing how the reasons behind the conflicts in the said region, the Committee on Administration and Internal Security chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo alleges that some politicians have colluded with criminal networks and armed groups to gain power, influence and resources to enable them incentivize the maintenance of instability, a move that has undermined efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.

The committee further claimed that some politicians and elites have been providing support, including arms, ammunition and auxiliary resources to criminals to carry out raids in order to gain political supremacy and control of their neighboring communities’ land.

High incidents

The report reveals that between February and August 2023, a total of 491 security incidents were reported across the six counties with Turkana county experiencing the highest rate of incidents while Elgeyo Markwet having the lowest incidents.

Reads the report: “The North Rift region is experiencing ongoing insecurity due to persistent cattle rustling and banditry. These bandits have escalated their attacks on resident’s security personnel, government facilities and motorists, leading to significant displacement, property damage, vandalism of schools, and a decline in economic activity, thereby posing a serious security challenge.”

It adds: “Overall the primary causes of criminal activity such as banditry, theft and violence remain rooted in resource disputes, political instigations, cultural significance and inter communal conflicts.”

Following the move the committee now wants the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to initiate a systematic intelligence-led operation in the North Rift region to dismantle criminal networks operating in the region and flush the criminals from their hideouts.

The Ministry, the committee added, should also prioritize intelligence gathering to obtain accurate and real-time information on the activities and movements of criminal groups for effective crime prevention and response.

Unlicensed firearms

Reads the report: “The Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and National Police Service should initiate a disarmament exercise aimed at confiscating all illicit firearms held by Unlicensed civilians in all areas in the six counties of North Rift. This will contribute in reducing the proliferation of illegal weapons, enhancing public safety, and curbing criminal activities associated with firearm misuse by criminals. Any leader confirmed to be sabotaging this exercise must be apprehended.”

With regards to specific counties, the report shows that Commercialization of cattle rustling and availability, Competition over scarce and diminishing resources, Proliferation and availability of illicit small arms, Marginalization and under development and Cultural Practices and traditional spiritual leaders are to blame for the current insecurity in the region.

In Laikipia County for instance, the report notes that the persistent insecurity is attributed to armed land invasions by herders from Samburu, Isiolo, and Baringo counties.

The conflicts, the report says primarily involve agriculturalists, pastoralists and wildlife conservation driven by competition for land, pasture, water and other resources.

In Baringo county, the report says that insecurity is driven by livestock raids for commercial purposes, restocking after droughts and dowry payments which have been made worse by boundary and territorial disputes, particularly involving the pokot community encroachment on parts of Baringo.

Reads the report: “The persistence of outdated cultural practices such as high bride prices and glorification of warriors, further escalated tensions.”

In Samburu county the conflicts arise from competition over scarce natural resources, particularly between the Samburu and Turkana Communities over access to water, grazing land, which led to violent confrontations.

Reads the report: “The key drivers of insecurity in Samburu County include intensified competition over natural resources, disputes over access to water and grazing land, politicization of community boundary issues and cultural practices such as Moranisim, which encourages cattle rustling.”

In Turkana County, the conflicts and criminal activities are primarily driven by ethnic hostility, competition for pasture and water, boundary disputes, cultural practices, commercial interests, breaches of peace agreements and political interference.

The report notes that the proliferation of illegal arms fuels the conflict, while cultural practices such as high bride prices and the glorification of warriors contribute to violence.

Reads the report: “Stock theft is driven by cultural and economic motives, including the need to restock herds depleted during droughts. The conflict is attributed to competition over natural and mineral resources, a discriminatory disarmament programme, militia formation by Pokot leadership, and compromised security agencies.”