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Leaders from the North Rift have asked Parliament to compel the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to take full charge of the security operation aimed at flushing out bandits wreaking havoc in the region.

County Assemblies in the region have already presented a petition to the National Assembly, through their Speakers.

According to the leaders, the ongoing operation had not achieved much as KDF was taking orders from the police.

Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich (pictured) yesterday warned that more deaths will be witnessed in the area if KDF don’t take charge of the security operation in six counties which have been classified as dangerous and disturbed.

“The bandits seem to have overpowered police. How can you explain a situation where they soot people dead in broad daylight despite the presence of the officers?” Rotich posed.

Nurse killed

The Governor said they will be forced to arm their people to protect themselves if they are not assured of their safety by the government.

“For how long will we continue losing innocent lives for? Enough is enough,” the Governor said.

On Monday, two more people among them a nurse and a medical laboratory staff in Kerio Valley, were shot death by armed bandits, bringing to seven the number of people killed in four days.

The deceased, workers at Endo Mission and Kapchemuta health centres, lost their lives after bandits suspected to be from Tiaty launched twin attacks.

People Daily established that the nurse was accosted at Kowow village in Marakwet East as she was reporting for duty, while the lab technician was killed at Kapkata in Arror, Marakwet West, as he was tending to his livestock.

The killings have been going on despite heavy presence of police and KDF officers who were deployed to the region following an order from President William Ruto.