Samburu valley begins recovery after months of deadly banditry

The families that were forced to flee their homes and seek shelter at temporary IDP camps set up in safer areas are now rebuilding their lives after the special forces deployed in the area by the government managed to silence the guns. 

Four months ago, the volatile Malaso Valley of Samburu County was a no-go zone. 

Fire exchanges were the order of the day, with bandits raiding the areas of Loboingare, Longewan, Lolmolog, Pura, Poraa Suguta, and Morijo, killing and maiming locals and stealing livestock. 

This prompted the locals to flee their homes for safety even as the government deployed special forces to tame the bandits in the area.

Dickson Lesianga spoke about the pains of banditry in the region, "Ile wasi wasi mingi iliyokuwa imepungua kidogo, na tunashukuru Mungu kwa hayo, sababu tunaomba Mungu arudishe roho ya hao vijana ambao wameleta madhara kubwa kwa area ya Samburu. Ni watoto wetu, sisi ni Wakenya wote, lakini walichukua wakati mbaya kuumiza wazee, kuumiza watoto."

With the help of local leaders, the displaced are slowly returning to their homes to rebuild their lives.

"Tulikuwa na shida ya insecurity, manyumba ilichomeka, tulipitia changamoto mingi, ata tulikuwa tunanyeshewa. Vitabu ya watoto wetu ya shule imenyeshewa yote, lakini kwa sasa tunashukuru." he added. 

Elizabeth Lolongole who has sustained injuries in a bandit attack,  also shared her concerns: "Mtusaidie tu watu wa Pura hatuna shule, watoto wanahangaika tu, tunaishi manyatta ya watu."

Samburu Woman rep, Pauline  Lenguris explained the efforts being made to assist the affected families: 

"Tunajua wengi wao boma zao zilichomwa. Kwa sababu hiyo nilienda kutafuta msaada wa mabati ambayo tumepatia twenty-eight households wale ambao nyumba zao zilichomwa na adui wakati wa vita. Na leo wanafuraha sana kwa sababu najua kutoka hapa, wanaweza enda tena ku-reconstruct tena manyumba yao, na pole pole wanaweza kurudi kwa maboma zao."

As the victims of banditry in Samburu County embark on a journey to rebuild their lives, thanks to the special forces silencing the guns in a once heavily contested area, they are pleading with the government to set up permanent camps for the forces in the area as a long-term solution to the perennial insecurity problem. 

 "Awa special forces wakuwe hapa, ata sehemu hii kati kati yetu na Wapokot, kuna sehemu kubwa ambayo wanaweza kuishi tuweze kupata utulivu. Kwa sababu presence yao pekee yake imetosha." Lenguris emphasized.