A section of leaders and residents from Baringo County have lauded the government for its efforts to restore peace in the area.

 Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi, who led leaders in applauding the government, said perennial cattle rustling and banditry have for a long time hindered any meaningful development from taking place.

 Cheboi recalled his first term in office in 2013, noting that the county was seriously struggling with the insecurity menace to a point it made local and foreign visitors fear visiting the county.  

The governor who presided over the event with County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa gave an assurance that the situation has now changed, courtesy of a multi-sectoral approach which has yielded peace for close to a year now.

Speaking at Kabarnet National Museum grounds during this year’s county Jamhuri Day celebrations, Cheboi thanked the administration of President William Ruto for honouring a pledge to residents during the 2022 campaign period to eradicate the vice once and for all in the affected counties of the North Rift region.

“I want to thank President William Ruto because he assured Baringo residents during the 2022 campaigns that he would end the insecurity menace in the Kerio Valley region, which he has done,” he said.

 He noted that the relative peace witnessed in every corner of the county will enable them to focus on implementing social and economic development initiatives geared towards improving the livelihoods of the people.

Deputy governor’s remarks

Cheboi’s sentiments were echoed by his deputy, Felix Kimaiyo, who noted that the sustainable peace that is being witnessed across the county will boost tourism, which is one of the leading sectors in the county, which was hardly hit by the menace. 

Kimaiyo, who is the acting County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for tourism, said they expect the sector will grow tremendously owing to peaceful coexistence amongst the local communities.

Kutwa, in his remarks, said the current situation in the county is different compared to last year during the Jamhuri celebrations, when locals in insecurity-prone areas faced a surge in deaths and loss of properties, as emergency response was also a major challenge.

 The CC assured residents that for this Christmas festivities the security teams will continue to offer protection to them and their properties, and they will celebrate it without any major incidents.

Return of firearms

 Kutwa noted that part of the progress is due to the ongoing national amnesty programme, which has yielded 561 illegal firearms and 1,600 bullets across the county.

He encouraged residents to voluntarily surrender illicit weapons to their respective chiefs or neighbouring police stations, and they will not be victimised at all.