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Kenya Pokot kill 8 K'jongs in cattle raid

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
January 3, 2003
Posted to the web January 3, 2003

By Sylvester Onyang
Kampala
Eight people were killed and five others injured in two cattle raids in Namalu
and Tokora trading centers in Nakapiripirit district on Tuesday.
Kokuwam parish LC-I Chairman Okello Lotwa said a group of about 200 Pokot
raiders opened fire in a night attack on kraals in Lomormor village killing
three children on the spot. A woman and her husband died later in Tokora health
centre where the injured are receiving treatment.
He said two other locals who volunteered to pursue the rustlers were shot dead
during a hot fire exchange three hours after the raid.
Lotwa said locals, who were taken unawares, were overpowered by the
overwhelming number of armed raiders.
Namalu LC-III Chairman Joshua Ojao said the rustlers, suspected to be from the
Kenyan Pokot tribe, have crossed the border with the herd.
He said about 400 heads of cattle belonging to migrants from Nabilatuk,
Lolachat and Namalu were stolen from seven kraals in Lomormor grazing area. The
cattle keepers have temporarily migrated there to get water and greener
pastures.
Ojao said one other person was killed in Tokora when a group of suspected Pokot
raiders stole cattle the same day.
He urged the army to provide arms to the already trained home guards to defend
themselves because the LDUs have proved to be ineffective.
Nakapiripirit LC-V Chairman John Lorot said local authorities from Pokot County
have been informed to verify the cattle rustlers and report to the army for
military intervention.

   

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