MCA Paul Leshimpriro Shot Dead in Samburu

Angata Nanyekie community in Samburu County is reeling from the tragic death of Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Paul Leshimpriro.

The politician was fatally shot by bandits on Sunday morning while returning home from Maralal Town. This senseless act of violence follows a string of unsettling events that have plagued the region in recent weeks. Leshimpriro's death occurred while he was travelling along the Morijo-Baragoi Road, accompanied by his driver who fortunately escaped unharmed. This incident comes just two weeks after a shootout between bandits and police reservists in Samburu resulted in a casualty.

The incident continued on January 30 when bandits disrupted the burial ceremony of a slain National Police Reservist, throwing the event into chaos and claiming another life. In response to this escalating violence, former Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe urged the government to implement insurance coverage for National Police Reservists who risk their lives in the line of duty. He has also initiated a movement to address the root causes of this insecurity. Lesiyampe's call for action comes amidst an ongoing government effort to combat criminal activity in Kenya's Rift Valley counties including Elegeyo Marakwet, Samburu, Turkana, and Baringo.

However, the recent attacks, including the targeting of Lesiyampe's residence where locals keep their animals, highlight the urgent need for more effective security measures in the region. In Samburu, a man and his son were killed by bandits who also made off with 150 cattle. Fortunately, a team of security officers managed to retrieve the stolen livestock and fend off the bandits. However, there are concerns that these attacks will persist. The Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has taken charge of the operations in the area and has made a firm commitment to putting an end to this menace.

According to Kindiki, cattle rustling in Northern Kenya has transformed into an organized criminal activity that brings about death, poverty, and displacement. The consequences of this crime are severe, as it not only deprives pastoral communities of their primary source of income but also exacerbates poverty in the region. This, in turn, fuels communal grievances and prompts retaliatory attacks.