The government has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to bandits wreaking havoc in Kerio Valley to surrender all illegal firearms or a massive disarmament exercise be rolled out in the area.

This follows the killing of more than 10 people in the banditry prone region in the past one week alone.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) Eliud Lagat (pictured) who toured the region to assess the security situation said the government will not relent until all firearms in the wrong hands are seized.

“We have directed the multi-agency security team to intensify efforts to recover all illegal firearms and expedite the arrest of criminals responsible for terrorising local communities,” said Lagat.

The DIG who met with various Sub-County Security and Intelligence Committees, including representatives from Tiaty West and Pokot Central commended the security team for their efforts in restoring security, peace, and tranquillity in the region.

According to Lagat, security has been bolstered through the strategic deployment of additional security personnel.

Senior officers

He was accompanied by senior officers, including the Commandant of the General Service Unit (GSU) Ranson Lolmodooni and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) Commandant Joseph Limo among others.

Just last week, four people were shot dead by armed bandits in Kerio Valley who also made away with an unknown number of livestock.

The attacks has dealt a big blow to peace efforts in the region which had witnessed relative calm for the past three months.

The first attack saw one herder shot dead in Dira area of Tiaty constituency, Baringo County.

A retaliatory attack followed shortly after, leaving three people dead, including two pupils from Kimongo Primary School in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

The victims were ambushed and shot on their way home from school near Soko Bora, close to Tot in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

The attacks come barely month after three people were killed on the Kolowa Bridge as they returned from Kolowa Market to Tot.

Separately, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that the government will commence a fresh vetting of National Police Reservists (NPRs) in the banditry prone region.

Murkomen said that despite the presence of many NPR officers in the area, cattle rustling and killings are still being witnessed.