A visit to bandit-stricken areas reveals the sad tale and the strange life the warring communities of Tugens, Marakwets and Pokots live.
Areas being opened up to the rest of the world are little-known Kinyach, Kapturo and Kabirwek.
These names are strange to some residents of Marakwet and Baringo Counties.
For those who know them, they utter them in low tones since they are believed to be ‘killing fields’ where bandits roam freely.
The current political regime has taken the bull by the horns and is putting up a new road in this area.
The larger area is called Kabirion location, located in Baringo North Constituency.
The exact village where the bandits made it their “killing field” and a holding place for stolen livestock is Kabirwek village.
The village has impassable roads, it's tucked almost 100 kilometres from Kabarnet town.
Kabirwek is almost 30 kilometres away from Bartabwa where the famous General Daudi Tonje was born and raised.
To access the “killing field”, one has to drive from Kabarnet, Kabartonjo, Kipsaraman, and Bartabwa where the tarmac ends and navigate through the valleys of death.
This is the border between Baringo North and Tiaty Sub Counties.
In Tiaty, we have the Pokots and the other side the Tugens.
The land is rich in limestone which can be spotted all over and other minerals.
The strange thing is that many residents from Baringo North said they have never set foot in Kabirwek.
“I live in Bartolimo which is less than 50 kilometres away. Since I was born, I have never set foot here. That’s a war zone,” said 60-year-old Tom Chepchieng.
Whenever bandits strike the Tugens, they steal livestock and hold it here.
You get here alive but won’t leave.
On Saturday, first Lady Rachel Ruto who is spearheading peace efforts in the area, sent her representatives to reconcile the Tugens and Pokots.
The residents, political leaders and the local administration shook hands and vowed not to kill each other.
The first lady is also working with Borders Community Peacenet-Africa (BCP-A) and International NGO.
The NGO is headed by the CEO of the Kenya Anti Cattle Rustling Program James Kandagor.
Renowned evangelist Reverend Edward Ngaira was sent to represent First Lady Rachel Ruto.
Kandagor and Ngaira witnessed the clearing of the bushes as the Kinyach-Kapturo Kabirwek road took shape.
The road will go around Chebarcholom Hill in Tiaty Sub County.
The road will link the residents to the tarmac running from Marigat to Chemolingot.
Once the bushes are cleared and perhaps tarmacked in future, it will be the shortest route for residents who live in the Marakwet lowland and Tot areas to travel to Nakuru.
It’s expected to cut travel time and distance by half.
“This is a miracle! I was born here. We were displaced by bandits in 1978. Since then, I have never returned. Now I return to witness the clearing of bushes to make a road. I can’t imagine,” Kandagor said.
On his part, Reverend Ngaira said as peace ambassadors, they will push the government to provide more social amenities to the residents so that they can abandon cattle rustling.
“I was in the US last month. It’s not as beautiful as this. Beautiful scenery and fresh air. As stakeholders, we will work with the government to put up a school here, a hospital an airstrip and other social amenities. We are serious about peace and please support the peace process,” Ngaira said.
The two distributed food to both Pokot and Tugen families who have been displaced by bandits.
A borehole is also being sunk to provide water to the locals