Kenyan police, backed up by the military recently took to the northern Rift Valley to root out bandits who have been attacking security forces and civilians while stealing livestock.
The security forces operation was launched by President William Ruto after three police officers were killed and eight injured in an ambush in Kainuk, Turkana County.
Japhet Koome, Kenya’s police chief was recently in Turkana County where he called for an end to the violence.
“People in this region have no option. They must learn to coexist. This habit of one community attacking another one will not be allowed to continue,” said Koome.
David Pkosing, Pokot South’s Member of Parliament said drought is fueling tensions and conflict between his community and the Turkana tribe.
“There is no order of grazing or drinking water and therefore the Pokot can push themselves to the river and maybe this river is on the side in terms of the administration of Turkana and Turkanas feel they are intimidated, or they think they are coming to their own land and vice-versa,” said Pkosing.
“That’s why there are a lot of conflicts. The competition for grass is now very high along that area,” he added.
The Pokot South representative also expressed fears of the security operation fueling more problems for his constituency.
“Out of 16 divisions in West Pokot, three are in distress, so sometimes when you unleash an operation, then they can make everybody a criminal… The past is that it criminalizes society,” said Pkosing.
“That’s my fear. There have been incidences of rape in the past, and there are incidences of hunger, and roadblocks. A few months ago, there was roadblocks in Tiaty and 16 schools were closed and people almost died,” he added.
Ahmed Mohamed, the head of the Center for Security and Strategic Studies said inadequate resources are fueling conflict in the affected regions.
“Those communities have lost a lot of animals. They have gone down in terms of numbers,” said Mohamed.
“Therefore, when they see others who are doing well, they will definitely go for them,” he added.
Mohamed called on government to address the conflict by developing the affected areas.
“Drought and climate change has had an impact. That is why we are saying as part of future plans, the government must think about development, think of life beyond livestock and all that other means will be used to help people sustain their lives,” said Mohamed.