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Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi has condemned the Wednesday killing of three family members along the Yatya-Chemoe Road in the county .

 The three, a man, his wife and their two-year-old child met their deaths after they were ambushed by armed bandits.

 Cheboi yesterday said that repeated acts of violence underscore the urgent need for heightened security measures and a decisive response to protect the lives and well-being of the community.

 “The audacity of these bandits to continue their heinous acts, even in the face of heightened security measures deployed by the government, is deeply distressing. This blatant disregard for human life reflects a defiance that is not only reprehensible but also challenging the authority and efforts of the government to maintain law and order,” said Cheboi.

 “The fact that the bandits, in this instance, did not steal anything amplifies the gravity of the situation, indicating a blatant disregard for human life. It is distressing to witness such brutal acts that demonstrate a sinister intent solely focused on causing harm and claiming lives,” added the governor.

 He called on the Government to restore calm and ensure that all criminals wreaking havoc in the region are brought to book.  “It is imperative that security personnel review and adapt their strategies to effectively counteract the brazen actions of these criminals. The lives of our citizens should not be held hostage by the audacious acts of those who defy the rule of law,” said Cheboi.

 He said the continuous attacks on innocent lives demand a swift and comprehensive response.

 “The Yatya-Chemoe road and its surrounding areas must be made secure for the well-being and safety of our community,” said Cheboi.

 He said his administration has engaged in discussions with the County Security Team to address the immediate security concerns plaguing the county.

 “The security forces are on high alert, with GSU personnel actively patrolling the affected areas,” said Cheboi.

 According to Cheboi, security teams stationed at Loruk, Ngaratuko, and Kagir have been strategically deployed to enforce the rule of law.

 “This comprehensive approach aims not only to respond to the immediate threat but also to ensure the safety of our community in the nights to come,” said the governor.

Banditry prone

 “We are resolute in our commitment to bringing those responsible for this heinous act to justice. The search for the killers is underway, and every effort is being made to hold them accountable for their actions,” he added.

 The killing of the three family members brought to six, the number of people killed in a week in the banditry-prone North Rift following the killing of another three people in Kerio Valley in the neighbouring Elgeyo Marakwet County.

 A spot-check by People Daily established that the attacks have adversely affected the reopening of schools for the first term.

 Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich yesterday claimed that the bandits were still roaming in the area and called on the government to act swiftly.

 “Mr President, these bandits seem to be daring your administration. They only understand one language: death,  as they have been killing innocent people in cold blood,” said Rotich.

 He claimed that armed bandits were now targeting peace ambassadors derailing peace efforts in the region.

 The residents have now threatened to arm themselves to protect their lives and property if the state cannot assure them of their safety.

 The cattle raids and retaliations left more than 100 people including security personnel and thousands of livestock stolen last year alone in the banditry-prone North Rift region prompting the government to roll out a massive security operation to seize illegal firearms and flush out armed criminals.

Security operation

 The government termed six banditry-prone counties in the North Rift among them Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu as ‘disturbed’ and ‘dangerous’ following the killing of at least 100 civilians and 16 police officers by armed bandits last year and rolled out the security operation conducted by the National Police Service with the help of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

 Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the government is in the process of reconstructing hundreds of schools which were vandalised as a result of perennial banditry in the North Rift at Sh100 million.