By Betty Luke
A section of lobbies in Isiolo have asked the government to allow residents in insecurity-prone areas own firearms to enable them protect themselves against attacks that have claimed more than 40 lives since the beginning of the year.
The Civil Societies said it is unfortunate that their neighbours in Wajir, Samburu and Garissa counties still owned guns that they regularly used to kill, maim and even steal animals while those from the Isiolo side had already handed theirs to the State.
The plea follows a series of attacks that have claimed lives and resulted to loss and destruction of property and displacement of several people.
Four people were shot on Friday near a grazing field in Boji Dera within Isiolo Samburu border in the latest banditry attack suspected to have been perpetrated by criminals from Samburu side.
Ms Valentine Nyaguthii of Pastoralists Gender Initiative accused the government of unfair disarmament which she said continued to expose Isiolo residents to a lot of threat.
“We cannot continue losing lives while the government is watching. Our people should be armed just like our neighbors,” said Ms Nyaguthii.
She also noted that the situation might worsen during the electioneering period and urged stakeholders including the county government to fund peace initiatives especially at the border points.
“Peace meetings should be facilitated at the grassroots level to enhance peaceful co-existence especially at the borders,” she added.
The activists want the security agencies to take action against political leaders suspected to be fanning violence between communities for their selfish gains.
“We fear the attacks could be politically instigated and urge the concerned authorities to arrest those involved for legal action,” said Mr Silas Eudan of Isiolo Rights Watch.
The team accused police of laxity in dealing with insecurity concerns saying they were taking time to respond to distress calls from citizens during attacks.
Mr Ibrahim Waqo claimed the victims of yesterday’s attack waited longer before being attended to at the Isiolo Referral Hospital where they were rushed in a Northern Rangelands Trust vehicle.
“The emergency department should be always ready to receive patients but it was disheartening that the victims waited longer before being attended to,” Mr Waqo told journalists in Isiolo town.
