Barely a week after a General Service Unit (GSU) commander who was killed by bandits in Kapedo was laid to rest in an emotional send-off in Busia County, ODM Party leader Raila Odinga has lately revealed how thanks to his intervention, the government swiftly handled the insecurity situation in the region.
Speaking in Turkana yesterday, Raila, disclosed to a gathering that on the day the police boss was killed, Loima MP Jeremiah Ekamais informed him of the incident through a phone call, after which he quickly reached out to CS for Interior, Fred Matiang’i and his counterpart PS Karanja Kibicho whom he ordered to immediately find a resolution to the banditry problem.
“Jeremiah aliponipigia simu juu ya mambo ya Kapedo, Nikapiga simu kwa Bwana Matiang’i, Na nikapiga simu vile vile kwa Bwana Karanja Kibicho, Nikasema mambo ya Kapedo mpaka ikomeshwe mara moja!” noted the former opposition leader, evidently boasting of his recent deep links and power inside President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
In response to the attacks late last month, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i declared Kapedo – which is at the border of Turkana and Baringo counties – a ‘disturbed zone’ with the aim of enhancing an ongoing security operation. A dusk to dawn curfew was gazetted as part of efforts to address the menace.
Raila, who is Turkana for a three-day visit, has also urged the government to beef up security within the greater Kapedo region.
Additionally, he asked residents of the county to support the Building Bridges Initiative, further urging MCAs from the area to pass the drafted BBI constitutional amendment bill, 2020, saying BBI will ensure more resources trickle down from the national government to county governments.
