Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai (centre) speaks to Ms Jane Edete on June 2, 2025 after she occupied one of the houses constructed by the county government for resettling victims of the 2022 arson attack.
The Turkana County government has constructed a new village in Napeitom area, Turkana East, to resettle survivors of the 2022 bandit arson attack, offering permanent homes and essential services in a bid to give affected families a fresh start.
The attack in July 2022 claimed seven lives, with the victims burned beyond recognition, while more than 100 families were displaced. Survivors fled to Lokori, more than 35 kilometers away, where they received temporary shelter from the Kenya Red Cross.
Three years later, 30 permanent houses have been built and handed over to the families.
The project also includes a 2.5-square-kilometre perimeter wall, a metallic gate, a health facility with a maternity wing, a renovated borehole, an Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) center and staff quarters.
A watchtower has also been installed for National Police Reservists (NPRs) to monitor any potential threats.
In addition to Napeitom, the county is constructing a perimeter wall around Kamuge village now 70 per cent complete and has plans for a similar intervention in Nadome village, another hotspot for bandit attacks.
According to Napeitom chief Hanson Kaptan, while 30 families have been resettled in permanent houses, over 800 people from 101 families were displaced in the 2022 attack.
“Only 30 families have permanent houses. Others are building temporary shelters within the compound and many are yet to return. There’s enough space for more houses and we hope the county will continue construction,” he said.
For survivors like James Lonyeet, the resettlement offers a bittersweet homecoming. Four of his children were among the seven victims of the arson attack.
“I was not in the main house at the time. I ran a shop in the village and sometimes slept there. That night saved my life,” said Mr Lonyeet.
His wife, who was severely burned in the incident, spent more than 10 months undergoing treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. She now lives with a disability.
A police officer stares at a blackboard inside a classroom at Napeitom village in Turkana County on June 2, 2025
“All my belongings, savings and house were reduced to ashes and I was reduced to a beggar. But I’m grateful to return to my ancestral home and start rebuilding,” he said.
Unlike before when the village was fenced with dry branches that bandits could easily burn, the new perimeter wall offers a sense of security.
“This place is more habitable now. I can walk to a neighbour’s house without fear. The NPR watchtower adds to our safety,” said Lonyeet.
Another survivor, Jane Edete, said she would never have rebuilt her manyatta without help from the county government. She now calls for further support, including the recruitment of more police reservists and improved education access.
“We want President William Ruto’s administration to assure us of security. We also want support for our children to join tertiary institutions and universities,” she said.
Ms Edete added that the local primary school had been vandalised by bandits after the displacement, forcing parents to relocate their children behind in safer areas. She called on the national government to rebuild the school.
The survivors have also requested compensation for lost property and businesses, and startup capital to rebuild their livelihoods. Most currently depend on relief food.
They also want the village health facility to be fully equipped and staffed to reduce the need to travel to distant towns like Lokori, Lodwar or Nakuru, trips that expose them to possible ambushes.
While commissioning the project on Tuesday, Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai said the initiative demonstrates his administration’s commitment to rebuilding conflict-ravaged areas and restoring livelihoods.
“These projects reflect our commitment to rebuilding conflict affected areas and restoring livelihoods. We are working with the National Government to improve security and ensure lasting peace in banditry-prone regions,” said Mr Lomorukai.
Despite the progress, concerns have been raised about the long-term viability of such projects. Turkana County Woman Representative Cecilia Ngitit questioned the sustainability of building walls in volatile areas as a means of security.
Sheep and goats graze inside Napeitom village in Turkana County.
“A wall has been built at Napeitom as a desperate measure to secure locals. But is this the Kenya we want? Bandits can still jump over it and cause mayhem. We need sufficient security forces in Napeitom to protect the people,” she said.
She urged President William Ruto’s administration to deal decisively with banditry, noting that despite ongoing security operations like Maliza Uhalifu, a joint undertaking by the National Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces, bandit attacks still persist.
County Police Commander John Tarus called on residents to ensure that they are accompanied by police reservists whenever they are grazing their livestock, saying the area remains insecure.
“The patrol base here rotates police officers every three months because people fled due to insecurity. With the resettlement, I will push for the patrol base to be upgraded into a police station with permanently assigned officers,” said Mr Tarus.
County Commissioner Julius Kavita said village will soon have a fully-fledged police station and a newly deployed assistant county commissioner.
“We will also vet and recruit 30 disciplined police reservists who will receive a monthly stipend to secure the area,” he said.
