Govt Begins Compensating Victims of Banditry

The National Government has rolled out a program to compensate Kenyans who lost lives and livestock during banditry attacks in Baringo.

The program will be rolled out in three different phases, the first phase involves compensating communities that lost people and livestock.

The second phase involves compensating those who got injuries and lost their properties while the third phase involves compensating those who lost livestock but did not get injured or killed.

According to Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap, the program is aimed at trying to return life to normalcy for the victims even though they cannot bring back the lives of those who died during the attacks.

The MP detailed that apart from returning to normalcy, the program also aims at improving the quality of livestock in the area, strengthening the economy, and increasing food production.

“We are launching restocking, through public participation and the National Government’s budget. We are trying to regain normalcy so that at least we can stabilise these families and also change the livestock breed of this area,” the MP explained.

In the first phase, 17 families benefited after each got three cows and four goats. In total, the National government provided 344 goats and 51 cows for the restocking program.

Families that received the compensation thanked the government for the initiative that will help them. Most of them lost hundreds of livestock but appreciate the government’s initiative.

The initiative by the National Government comes months after leaders from the North Rift Region advocated for a special fund aimed at compensating victims of banditry.

The leaders argued that the lives of some residents become completely shattered through the loss of loved ones and property hence the need for compensation.

“It is only fair that they are compensated to start their lives afresh,” Makilap said in July 2024.

Many parts of the North Rift region, especially Kerio Valley, have been living turbulent lives for the last two years, which has resulted in the death of hundreds of people. 

More than 100 people, including security personnel, were killed last year, prompting Kindiki, the then Interior CS to classify as disturbed and dangerous six banditry-prone counties of Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu.

The state then rolled out a massive security operation to restore security and peace in the area coordinated by police assisted by the military.