Sondu Killings: Kindiki, IG Koome Urged To Transfer All Police Officers

Kericho Senator and Senate Majority Leader, Aaron Cheruiyot has demanded Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome to transfer all security officers to deal with the Sondu clashes.

In a statement to newsrooms on Thursday, October 5, Cheruiyot accused the officers of slacking on their job and failing to stop the attacks which he argued could have been prevented.

"I demand that the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome and CS Prof. Kindiki immediately transfer all officers in the area for laxity and failure to stop the attacks.

"It is appalling that the officers have been passively spectating as the two sides engage in despicable bloody orgies, with little or no action to restore order, protect lives and property," he stated.

The senator further accused the officers of refusing to act on intelligence regarding the planning of the attacks which have left at least seven people dead.

While condemning the killings, lawlessness and destruction of property which have occurred over the last couple of days in the Sondu area along the Kericho- Kisumu border, he expressed his sadness regarding the loss of lives and torching of business establishments that he believed could have been averted had authorities acted more promptly.

"The officers are complicit for not acting on actionable intelligence on planning and retaliatory attacks from both sides. I demand that heads must roll," he stated.

"Our security enforcement agencies owe the country an explanation of how this situation escalated under their watch. No cause justifies such barbarity and heinous crimes whatsoever! The hostilities must cease forthwith."

Cheruiyot also called for Kindiki to urgently call for a leaders and community members baraza in Sondu so as to speak to the people and urge the cessation of hostilities, assuring that "I am certain this meeting drawn from the two neighbouring counties can arrest the unfortunate situation immediately."

He also urged the leaders from the region to refrain from issuing polarizing statements that aggravate an already bad situation.

"I strongly urge all the elected Leaders, the clergy, opinion makers and the local administration to assist authorities in bringing to account the few criminal elements perpetrating the senseless acts," he went on.

Earlier, Nyanza Governors, Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), James Orengo (Siaya) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) pressured Kindiki to deploy the General Service Unit (GSU) to deal with the Sondu clashes.

A photo of GSU officers in Nairobi. /FILE