Latest Updates: Baringo

Showing posts with label Baringo. Show all posts

Monday, August 8, 2022

Gov't lifts curfew in Baringo to facilitate election

Eric August 08, 2022 0

The dusk to dawn curfew imposed on parts of Baringo County over insecurity has been lifted for four days to allow voters to exercise their right to vote.

Baringo County Commissioner Abdirazak Jaldesa confirmed the development on Monday while issuing an update on the security status said that the lifting was to facilitate voting exercise on Tuesday.

The government imposed curfew in Tiaty Constituency and two wards – Saimosi and Sibilio – in Baringo North on June 7th over insecurity brought about by cattle rustling.

Due to insecurity, the electoral body had merged polling stations in Baringo South and North sub-coubties and others moved.

The curfew had also been imposed in parts of Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot counties in a bid to weed out bandits and seize illegal guns .

Gideon Moi to defend his Baringo Senate seat

Counties

Eric May 18, 2022 0

Kanu chairman Gideon Moi will be defending his Baringo Senate Seat in the August 9th polls ,his party has confirmed.

The Party's Secretary-General Nick Salat will confirming Moi's candidature said the independence party submitted senator's name to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to seek a third term in the Senate.

“Yes, chairman’s name was submitted to the IEBC by the party to go for the Senate seat in the August General Election. The party’s election board forwarded the name but I do not know if it was his will or not, but his name was submitted,” said Mr Salat.

The Baringo senator, who backs Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga has however in the past occasions shied away from declaring his bid or launching his campaigns.

Senator Moi's entry into the race means he will face off with Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate and Baringo North MP Mr William Cheptumo, for the seat.

Police intensify search for teacher who threw five-month-old baby in fire

Counties

Eric May 03, 2021 0

Police in Baringo County have intensified the search for a primary school head teacher suspected to have thrown a five-month-old baby in a fire.

According to Baringo North Sub-county Police Commander Fredrick Odinga, the search has been extended to Nakuru and Uasin Gishu, which are the neighbouring counties.

He said, “We raided the house alongside the area assistant chief on Saturday, but he was nowhere to be seen. He will run but will not hide for long.”

On Friday, the baby's mother who is also the suspect’s wife recorded a statement with the police.

Meanwhile, the baby is still receiving treatment at the Baringo County Hospital.

The police have urged residents to share with them any information they may have regarding the suspect’s whereabouts.

Allegedly, the suspect threw his barely one year old son in an open fire on April 25 following a disagreement with the wife over the child’s paternity.

Reportedly, he accused the wife of siring the child out of their marriage.

According to the area assistant chief Sam Kamuren, before the incident, the couple had been experiencing marital problems. He had advised the suspect to surrender himself to the authorities.

Kamuren said, "I advocate for justice, and strongly condemn the incident, but again, I have received conflicting information that needs to be investigated to determine what really happened."

Police arrest 15-year-old girl for aborting and dumping foetus in pit latrine

Counties

Eric April 08, 2021 0

Police officers in Kabartonjo have arrested a 15-year-old girl for allegedly procuring an abortion and dumping the foetus in a pit latrine.

Area Assistant Chief Joshua Kiptosok launched an infanticide probe on which the officers were acting.

They demolished the pit latrine to retrieve the foetus. However, they discovered two foetuses immersed in the sludge of human waste.

The foetuses were rushed to Bartabwa Health Centre in Kabartonjo.

On arrival, one was declared dead and the other was referred to Baringo County Referral Hospital for specialized treatment.

The 15-year-old suspect is in police custody will strictly face the law for her crime.

In a statement, the officers advised, “Parents, guardians, religious leaders and the society at large, equally have a responsibility, in mentoring and guiding children as they grow up to being responsible and accountable for their actions.”

Cop in Baringo stabs bar owner to death over Ksh.450

Counties

Eric April 06, 2021 0

A police officer in Baringo County allegedly stabbed and murdered a bar owner at Kipsaraman trading centre in Baringo North after an altercation ensued over Ksh.450.

Reportedly, the 43-year-old bar owner, Reuben Cherotich, demanded that the 32-year-old Administration Police (AP) officer, Victor Ruto, pays his Ksh.450 bill.

Ruto however pulled a knife from his pocket stabbed the Cherotich on the neck.

According to Baringo County Police Commander Robinson Ndiwa, the victim succumbed to injuries while being rushed to hospital.

“They picked a brief quarrel and fought before the officer pulled out a knife, stabbing him on the neck,” said the police boss. “The suspect has been arrested and he shall be arraigned in court as soon as possible to answer to murder charges,” said Ndiwa.

Allegedly, the suspect in the company of other people drinking alcohol past the restricted 10pm curfew hour.

Ruto who is attached to Bartabwa AP camp and is currently in police custody.

Man dies few hours after donating blood

Counties

Eric February 26, 2021 0

A man, Desmond Kipkoech, reportedly died shortly after donating blood at a hospital in Baringo.

On Thursday, February 18 at around 11.50 am, Kipkoech visited Mercy Mission Hospital in Eldama Ravine town, Baringo County to donate blood.

According to the hospital’s CCTV cameras, he left

one of the examination rooms while staggering at 1 pm. However, collapsing on a bench outside Room 15 at the hospital thirty minutes later and was rushed to one of the emergency rooms.

Unfortunately, at 4 pm on that same day, Kipkoech was pronounced dead and his body was taken to the mortuary.

According to his family, Kipkoech was a healthy man. They are demanding an explanation as to what might have happened that led to his sudden death.

His eldest brother Samati Kemboi, who is a student at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Eldoret, said that Kipkoech had traveled to Eldama Ravine to visit his wife.

Kemboi said, “We are shaken and devastated. Our brother went to donate blood to save other people’s lives but ended up dying.”

He added that on that Thursday, he he left his brother as he was going to Eldoret but Emma Koech, a nurse at Mercy Mission Hospital called him to tell him the sad news.

Kemboi dismissed the claims by the nurse that the his brother had developed nausea and began vomiting before donating blood.

“The nurse claimed my brother was not fit to donate blood but in the CCTV footage, which the hospital allowed us to view, a laboratory technician is seen carrying donated blood to the storage room,” he said.

The family maintained that they would like to know what transpired in the blood donation room and whether their kin developed some kind of complication.

“All we want to know is whether there was some form of medical negligence during the process since Kipkoech, as far as we know, was in good health,” Kemboi asserted.

On Wednesday, February 24, a post-mortem examination report was conducted at the hospital and even though it was not conclusive, it showed that blood pressure complications could have caused Kipkoech's death.

The Rift Valley Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had taken over the matter with the regional boss Paul Wachira saying that investigations to establish what exactly happened are underway.

The management of the hospital had not yet commented on the matter.

Baringo county assembly rejects BBI Bill

Counties

Eric February 11, 2021 0

Baringo County Assembly has become the first county assembly to reject the BBI constitutional amendment bill.

The debate had earlier turned chaotic after MCAs from Jubilee and KANU clashed.

KANU MCAs who are the minority accussed their Jubilee counterparts of hatching plan for shooting down the bill.

Reports indicate that 30 MCAs voted against the bill while eleven supported the bill.

So far three counties, Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay have approved the BBI Bill which needs the support of at least 24 county assemblies before it can proceed to the National Assembly.

BBI debate turns chaotic as Jubilee and KANU MCAs clash

Counties

Eric February 11, 2021 0

A discussion regarding the BBI Bill at Baringo County Assembly on Thursday turned chaotic as Jubilee and KANU MCAs clashed over the constitutional amendment bill.

The MCAs from the different camps failed to agree on the bill with Jubilee having majority members and KANU having a substantial number.

The KANU MCAs under Gideon Moi's leadership want the bill passed while Jubilee members allied to Deputy President William Ruto’s oppose it.

Baringo County Assembly Majority leader Lawi Kipchumba last week claimed that Baringo would be the first county to vote against BBI.

Kipchumba said, "Just as our counterparts in Siaya have rushed to pass the bill, the Baringo assembly will be the first one to reject it. We cannot be blackmailed and sweet-talked. The majority of Kenyans have said ‘no’ to BBI and we have no choice but to reject it."

In the meeting with Jubilee MCAs on Wednesday at the party headquarters, Secretary General Raphael Tuju failed to convince them to support the report.

The lawmakers also accused Tuju of trying to intimidate nominated MCAs to vote in favour of the Bill or risk being expelled from the party.

The bill needs to be endorsed by at least 24 Counties to go to the parliamentary level.

Dormitory at Lake Baringo Secondary School razed

Counties

Eric February 04, 2021 0

A boys dormitory at Lake Baringo Secondary School was razed thereby increasing the number of schools that have experienced fire incidences in the country.

According to police, investigations to determine the cause of the fire incident that occured on Wednesday night are underway.

Baringo North sub-county Police Commander Fredrick Odinga said that they were yet to establish the cause of the fire that broke out at around 7pm and that no arrest was made.

“No one was injured during the fire incident but the boys lost all their belongings including mattresses, uniforms, books and other personal items,” he added.

However, there were conflicting reports regarding the fire as some people claimed that it was started by students while one of the teachers said they suspected it to be an electrical fault.

The secondary school is among those that were submerged by the swelling of Lake Baringo last year.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and other well-wishers donated tents to accommodate some 77 boys after their school was affected by submergence.

There are now six schools that have experienced fire incidences in Baringo county.

In the past three weeks, such incidences have been reported at Kituro, Barwesa, Timboroa, Kipcherere, Muchongoi and Lake Baringo secondary schools.

Also, at Muchongoi Secondary School, a fire razed the dormitory of 100 students, forcing them to spend Wednesday night in the cold.

Although the cause of the fire was not immediately established, claims indicated that students were culpable.

Another fire was reported at Kabarnet High School where a dormitory was caught in fire on Tuesday at 9pm.

A week ago, there was a similar incident at Kituro High School.

Silale MCA Nelson Lotela surrenders to police over Kapedo violence

Counties

Eric January 24, 2021 0

Silale Member of County Assembly (MCA) Nelson Lotela who is wanted for alleged incitement on Saturday surrendered himself to police where he was quizzed over the ongoing clashes in the war-tone Kapedo area.

Lotela presented himself to the DCI after Rift Valley Regional Commander George Natembeya instructed leaders in the area to present themselves for questioning.

The Silale MCA had been singled out during one of the press conferences Natembeya and was asked to visit the nearest police station and surrender himself before police smoked him out.

Lotela says he was questioned about his whereabouts during the skirmishes that erupted earlier this week.

Silale ward is in Baringo-along the border with Kapedo which is in Turkana County. Lotelo was directed to report to the DCI again on January 28th.

This development comes just a day after Interior CS Fred Matiang’i warned politicians who are instigating and funding the attacks in Kapedo, Tiaty as well as Arabal of dire consequences.

Senator Moi crowned Kalenjin elder amid opposition

Counties

Eric January 22, 2021 0

Five clans from the Talai Community in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County have come out to dispute the installation of Baringo County Senator Gideon Moi as a Kalenjin elder.

Talai Council of Elders Organizing Secretary Mzee Christopher Arap Agui says the coronation of Gideon Moi, which was conducted on Friday morning at the Senator’s Kabarak home led by former Councilor Christopher Arap Koiyoki and George Samoei, was done by ‘brokers and cartels.’

According to the Organizing Secretary, had the event been genuine Moi would have availed himself in Kapsisiywa for the coronation instead of inviting the elders to his home.

He maintains that the position of Kalenjin elder is currently held by Deputy President William Ruto.

Senator Gideon Moi was on Friday morning crowned a Kalenjin elder by a section of Talai Elders.

The crack-of-dawn ceremony which took around three hours at Moi’s Kabarak home saw the senator receive the communities’ instruments of power and the mandate to seek the country’s top job.

IEBC staffer found dead

Counties

Eric January 21, 2021 0

An IEBC member of staff, Brian Silale, was found dead on Wednesday at Arabal sub-location, Baringo South.

His body was found alongside five others.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati’s issued a statement saying that the deceased, who worked as a Constituency Administrative Assistant (CAA) for Tiaty Constituency Office, was last seen on January 19, 2021.

“Silale was last seen alive being picked by unknown persons together with five other people from Chemolingot shopping centre in Tiaty," read part of the statement.

"He was later murdered under unclear circumstances and the remains of his body together with other bodies were recovered on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at Arabal sub-location,” the statement went on.

Chebukati called for speedy investigations into the matter as he strongly condemned the incident.

Middle aged man charged with defrauding gov’t official of Ksh.3M

Counties

Eric January 12, 2021 0

A middle aged man was on Monday arraigned at the Kabarnet Law Courts for allegedly defrauding a government official.

The suspect Alexandria Kibet alias DT Donald who comes from Ossen, Baringo is alleged to have been masquerading as a police inspector attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.

He is accused of defrauding a government official identified as Zakayo Chirchir of Ksh. 2.9 million.

The court was told that Kibet was arrested on Sunday on his way to collect another Ksh. 300,000 from the complainant.

Previously, Kibet is said to have been sponsoring youth related activities in Kabartonjo Ward.

On Monday, he was arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Biwott and denied the charges.

Baringo North DCI asked the court for seven days to complete investigations.

The magistrate granted the request and directed that the accused remain in police custody.

The case will be heard on Monday next week.

Three killed in Lake Baringo boat accident

Counties

Eric January 03, 2021 0

Three people have died including two children after a boat capsized in Lake Baringo.

The boat is reported to have been carrying atleast 12 people out of the eight required at the time of the accident on Saturday evening.

Among those who perished was a one year old infant.

Rescue efforts are ongoing.

Fears at Kabarnet High School as 38 test positive for coronavirus

Counties

Eric November 15, 2020 0

Thirty-eight Form Four students at Kabarnet High School in Baringo County have tested positive for COVID-19.

The learners, whose samples had been taken for COVID-19 testing, received their results Saturday, with 38 of the students confirmed to have contracted the virus.

" Panic has engulfed the Kabarnet High School fraternity following the news" the three teachers at the school said

A Ministry of Health official, who spoke in condition of anonymity, corroborated the news.

Fate of over 4000 learners in Baringo in limbo as schools reopen

Counties

Eric October 12, 2020 0

As schools reopen, the fate of more than 4,000 learners from 15 schools in Baringo South Sub County hangs in the balance after their classrooms were submerged. Thus is after lakes Baringo and Bogoria broke their banks.

Parents lamented that the classrooms are yet to be reconstructed despite the government having promised to do so before schools reopen.

“We are requesting for urgent intervention from those concerned. Lake Baringo Secondary School has, for instance, been relocated to a higher ground, but no construction has begun. Our children have nowhere to call school,” said John Cheboi, a resident of Kampi Samaki.

The parents expressed concern that most children are boarders but all dormitories, labs and dining hall have been damaged by floods. The affected schools are Salabani Secondary, Ng’ambo Girls’, Lake Bogoria Girls, Ngambo Primary, Sintaan, Leswa, Lorok,Loruk Loropil, Noosukro, Kiserian, Sokotei and Salabani primary schools.

“The schools should be rebuilt before any plans to re-open schools are put in place,” said Anyaman Lemekuran, an elder.

The residents have expressed fears that preparation for the national examinations will adversely be affected by the calamity, which has also displaced more than 10,000 people in Baringo County.