Baringo MCA Arrested over incitement

The Muktani Ward MCA, Lemison Barkei, has been arrested over claims of incitements to members of the public.

The Baringo County MCA was arrested by security officers following a statement he made at a meeting held in Sadai area on 1st of February.

According to reliable sources, the meeting, convened by the local administration officials to discuss rising insecurity issues, was disrupted after the MCA rose and made polarising statement forcing the meeting to end in disarray.

However, Baringo South Member of Parliament (MP) Grace Kipchoim has condemned the arrest of the MCA saying the police officers ought to have arrested murder suspects first before hunting down the county legislator.

It was reported that prior to the MCA’a arrest, three people were killed and two others injured. An unknown number of livestock was stolen in a revenge attack that took place 5 days ago.

The M.P noted that it was regrettable for the security officers to arrest the leader while they were yet to arrest suspected raiders and those involved in the killings.

He called on the government to ensure that the MCA is released and that the stolen animals are returned to their owners.

This comes barely a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned 30 armored personnel carriers for the police at the GSU Training School in Nairobi.

During the ceremony, the president identified cattle rustling as one of the security threats facing the country.

Last year, County Commissioners from Nakuru and Baringo counties convened a high-powered inter-county security meeting to address the recurrent cattle rustling in the area.

Commissioners Mohammed Birik of Nakuru and Peter Okwanyo of Baringo accompanied by senior security officers from the police service convened at Waseges in lower Subukia to find a lasting solution.

Waseges area, which borders Baringo and Laikipia counties, had been identified as a hotspot for bandits and cattle rustlers.

Waseges Member of County Assembly (MCA) Njenga Kang’ethe, who was part of the meeting, noted that among the issues discussed included the setting up of a permanent anti-stock theft unit camp, provision of addition vehicles and police officers in the area.