North Rift bandits have been sending me death threats, claims MP

The chairman of a parliamentary committee has claimed that he has been receiving death threats from “warlords” in the insecurity-prone North Rift.

Gabriel Tongoyo, who chairs the Administration and Internal Security committee, said the faceless individuals have severally warned him against instituting an investigation on the characters behind cattle rustling and banditry in the regions.

The Narok West MP made the revelations even as his committee said it would summon an MP from Baringo County who has been named in a number of occasions as the one behind insecurity in the region.

“I did not want to reveal this at this stage, but I want to tell you that I have been receiving death threats with the callers warning against the ongoing probe on the cause of insecurity and mainly cattle rustling in northern Kenya,” Tongoyo (pictured) said during a committee meeting.

He, however, said he would not be cowed by the threats and vowed to lead his committee in the investigations which has since covered the counties of Samburu, Turkana and West Pokot.

“The committee is going to summon our colleague who has been in at least all the meetings we have held in the region. We want him to appear and defend himself against the accusations,” Tongoyo said.

Present submissions

Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, who appeared before the committee to present her submissions, called for the summoning of the MP who she said was solely to blame for the insecurity in the region.

“We cannot normalise killings, raping and stealing of livestock. These are acts against humanity and those perpetuating them should not go unpunished,” said Lesuuda.

MPs from Turkana and Samburu counties who appeared before the committee urged the government to enhance the deployment of Kenya Police Reservists in the region instead of deploying the military.

The committee had been invited to provide insights and workable solutions to deal with increased banditry in Turkana and Samburu counties. Lesuuda narrated how bandits were terrorising residents of Samburu despite the presence of KDF.

“The GSU and ASTU are doing a good job. But we don’t understand what KDF are doing. Raids are happening right outside their camps and they can’t help,” she said.