The deceased, who included women and children, were interred in a mass grave with mourners, who included local leaders, appealing to the government to beef up security in the region and the government, promising tough action on the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
Such magnitude of deaths has never been witnessed in the region - which is prone to sporadic cattle rustling incidents among the pastoralist communities - for a long time.
There were no funeral dirges as the giant government-owned excavator covered the mass grave with sand.
Silence pervaded the exercise, which was preceded by a funeral service conducted by clergies, who in their homily called for a lasting solution to the perennial banditry activities in the region.
Samburu Central district Commissioner Tom Macheneri said security had been beefed up in the area and calm was slowly returning.
Those critically injured during the attack, which was reportedly carried out by the members of the Pokot Community against their Samburu neighbours, have been air-lifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment, while those who received minor injuries were undergoing treatment at the Maralal government hospital.
Residents said they were disillusioned on their next move and appealed to the government to keep its word and intervene.
Meanwhile, the government, Thursday announced a major security operation in a bid to end impunity and restore security in pastoral areas.
Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode also announced a major disarmament exercise among communities in possession of illegal guns Ojode directed those holding guns illegally to surrender them with immediate eff ect or face the consequences.
Promising tough action against those involved in crime and especially those involved in banditry and cattle rustling, he warned that property ownership must be respected by all, in order to foster development.
"The government will not plead with those holding illegal guns any more, but shall use its security apparatus, including the military, to mop up the weapons," he declared.
He regretted that many lives had been lost as criminals "wrecked havoc" under the guise of retrogressive cultural practices such as cattle rustling, adding that "government will stop at nothing to eradicate the menace".
Nairobi - 17/09/2009
Pana
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