Leaders call for action as four killed by bandits buried
Four victims of the recent banditry attack were at the weekend buried in Kapkobil area in Marakwet East con- stituency, Marakwet county.
The four met their deaths while herding cattle a few kilometres from Tot centre when they were ambushed by armed bandits, who also made away with more than 200 herds of cattle.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tol- gos, Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen faulted the government for disarming local National Police Reservists.
“NPRs used to play a big role in assisting police beef up security, since they are more conversant with the terrain of this region. Their disarmament has exposed our people to armed bandits,” said Murkomen.
Bowen wondered why the government has been slow to address insecurity in the banditry-prone Kerio Valley but has been acting swiftly in other regions.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Patrick Lumumba said the attackers crossed over from Tiaty in the neighbouring Baringo county.
“We are liasing with our colleagues in Baringo to bring to book perpetra- tors of the heinous act and recover the stolen animals,” said Lumumba.
Counties from the banditry-prone North Rift have proposed that NPR programme be revived.
Governors Tolgos, John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot) and Stanley Kiptis of Baringo said their administrations are ready to help NPRs if the government deploys them.
