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Peace efforts in the banditry-prone North Rift have been dealt a blow following the killing of three peace ambassadors in Kerio Valley who have been on the forefront of preaching peaceful co-existence among warring communities in the region.

 People Daily established that the trio was  on a goat recovery mission led by a team of peace ambassadors from Marakwet East and Tiaty which was scheduled on the banks of River Kerio at the border of the two sub-counties before they met their deaths.

 An eye witness said the trio- a renown peace crusader, a teacher and a preacher were ambushed by armed bandits near Kerio River where they were shot dead which has sparked tension in the area which was beginning to experience uneasy calm.

Riding on motorbike

 “The three who were on a motorbike were headed to the venue of the peace meeting and I was to follow them. The bandits struck a kilometre to the venue and when we responded, we found that they were already dead,” said another peace ambassador who was to accompany the deceased.

 A sombre mood engulfed Iten County Referral Hospital on Saturday evening when the bodies of the deceased were ferried to the facility’s morgue with some family members fainting unable to bear the grief.

 Local leaders led by Elgeyo Marakwet governor Wisley Rotich, Senator William Kisang and Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba who visited the bereaved families yesterday decried rampant cases of insecurity in the region.   Rotich expressed fears that many schools in the area risk not reopening for the first term following the new spate of attacks.

 “The three were killed in cold blood and the killers are still roaming freely.  If such an incident had happened in a place like Nairobi, the culprits would have been arrested a long time ago, but just because we are lesser people,they will continue killing innocent people,” said Rotich.

 “As a region, we have been hardly hit. The deceased have been in the forefront in coordinating peace activities in the region. Whom will we be relying on?” he added.

Rendered orphans

 According to the leaders, many children have been rendered orphans and many women rendered widows and his administration is overwhelmed in offering school bursaries to all of them.

 “This incident is a total setback to peace efforts in Kerio Valley and we want to request that the government bring us more National Police Reservists (NPRs) but if it seems we still have a big problem, there is no other problem these bandits understand other death,” said Rotich.  The residents have now threatened to arm themselves to protect their lives and property if the state cannot assure them of their safety.

 Senator Kisang said that they were in talks Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to ensure the bandits are apprehended and security in the area is tightened.

 “The killing of innocent peace ambassadors is truly heartbreaking. Peace ambassadors play a crucial role in advocating for and restoring peace, they should be honored and valued. The actions of these heartless bandits show a complete disregard for human life,” said Kisang.

 “The attack sets a huge setback to the recent progress achieved in curbing banditry attacks,” he added.