Local politics could be behind murder of Baringo politicians, investigation reveals
Sleuths investigating last week’s murder of two politicians in Marigat, Baringo County have narrowed down to political rivalry and the multi-million diatomite project which is set to start operations in the coming months.
A well-informed source told the Informer that investigators have ruled out inter-community conflict as the reason behind the killing of Tiaty parliamentary aspirant Simon Pepe Kitambaa and Loyamorok MCA Kibet Cheretei.
“It is very clear for some of us following things that it is actually an internal thing,” he said, adding that local community politics were to blame.
The remarks by the official could be informed by the fact that Pepe—an expert in diatomite and general mining—was at the time of his death enjoying his highest approval ratings both within and outside his community.
Mr Kitambaa was last year appointed by President Kenyatta to the National Council of Population and Development Fund.
“There have been signs that politicians in conflict prone areas in the North Rift were resorting to violence something that should be discouraged,” the officer who we cannot name because of the sensitivity of the matter, added.
A former alumnus of the famed Moi High School, Kabarak; Pepe is described by those who know him as a friendly, jovial, intelligent, easy-going and down-to-earth person whose political star was on the rise.
He was the point man for a Chinese investor who has already indicated that he is going to start work on the ground in the next few weeks.
But, yesterday, former Baringo East MP Joseph Lotodo denied these claims and asked Kenyans to stop making speculations that might jeopardize ongoing peace efforts in the area.
“We should actually allow investigators to do their work because only they can tell us what really happened… that is the message we’re telling our people here,” the former legislator said.
“What is happening at the moment is very sad especially for people who love peace,” he said.
According to him, there was no disagreement over the diatomite project in Tiaty because the entire community stands to benefit but investigators believe that these project was going to give the deceased the much needed financial muscle—going into the elections.
During the incident, the hooded attackers set ablaze Kitambaa’s car which was parked outside the club where he was having fun with his friends, that is, after spraying bullets at him and his friend.
The attackers also escaped with a parcel—now at the centre of investigations—which they collected from his car. The two leaders died on the spot.
