12 shot dead in two weeks as bandits rule Kerio Valley
Wycliff Kipsang @wsang08
Hopes for a lasting peace were high when the government rolled out a massive disarmament exercise in some parts of North Rift region early this year.
However, doubts are being cast on the viability of the exercise after 12 people were shot dead in the Kerio Valley in the past two weeks alone.
On Saturday, five people were killed, one seriously injured and unknown number of livestock stolen in what is seen as retaliatory attacks between two warring communities in the area.
The first incident took place at Kaben after raiders suspected to be from Tiaty struck Kerio Valley and launched a revenge attack before making away with unknown number of livestock.
They are said to have been on a pay-back mission after people from Elgeyo Marakwet on Friday descended on Kolowa area of Baringo county where they killed two people, a Pokot and a Marakwet.
Expedite arrest
Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar said one of the dead was a 22-year-old Laikipia University student.
“The injured person is admitted at Endo Mission Hospital. We urge the two communities to end the hostilities as we pursue those behind the killings,” said the administrator.
The other seven people were killed in different instances between Kerio Valley belt running across Tiaty, Marakwet East and Marakwet West areas.
Security personnel deployed in the region are pursuing the stolen livestock believed to have been driven towards Cheptulel in Pokot Central, West Pokot and Ng’oron in Tiaty, Baringo county.
Among those killed in the conflict are two members of peace committees at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties.
Leaders from the two communities led by West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo have condemned the attacks and urged the two communities to co-exist peacefully.
“We call on security agencies to expedite the arrest of the killers, who have been identified and are still at large, “said Lonyangapuo.
Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen asked the government to reverse a decision to disarm Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) which he said has exposed residents to armed bandits.
The government took the move after it emerged that some of them were misusing the firearms by colluding with criminals.
Killings take place despite the ongoing intensive security operation in the neighbouring Tiaty sub--county to seize illegal guns and flush out armed criminals.
The move follows the killing of a GSU operation commander in Ameyan area while two other officers were seriously injured near the banditry prone Kapedo.
Disarmament exercise
The massive disarmament exercise was launched in the region early this year following the spate of attacks that has claimed lives including security officers deployed in the area to bring normalcy.
The massive disarmament is being carried in the insecurity prone Ameyan, Paka, Silale, Nadome, Kapau, Chesitet and Kapedo.
Last month, Kenya Red Cross Society suspended operations and withdrew all its staff from Baringo county because of security concerns.
The decision came after a confrontation at the Kampi ya Samaki where relief food was stolen and volunteers harassed.
