Wycliff Kipsang

Tension has gripped the banditry prone Kerio Valley after five more people were killed bringing to 17 the number of fatalties in the past month. 

The Tuesday attack at Chepkorowo which also left  five people seriously  injured came barley a week after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i toured the region and held a security meeting with local leaders. 

During the midday attack, more than 100 bandits suspected to be from Tiaty in Baringo County, struck the area and attacked herders grazing their livestock. 

There was a fierce exchange of fire between the two warring communities for more than two hours. 

 According to Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar, (pictured above) locals managed to subdue the attackers and no livestock was stolen during the attack.

One week ultimatum

“Irate Marakwet  youth burned the five bodies after blocking police from collecting them,” Mr Omar told People Daily on phone. 

The injured are recuperating at Kapsowar Mission Hospital. It also emerged that the bandits wreaking havoc in the region are the ones who fled Kapedo at the border of Baringo and Turkana counties, after the government rolled out a security operation in area. 

During his tour of Kerio Valley last week, Matiang’i issued a one week ultimatum to all herders in possession of illegal firearms in the troubled Kerio Valley to surrender them. 

The CS  ordered the administrators to work with police and identity all criminal elements  in the region. 

“We will no longer condone any form of lawlessness.  Just surrender or we come for you as we have the capacity to come for you, “ said Matiang’i who was accompanied by Inspector General of police Hillary Mutyambai and top Rift Valley regional security officials. 

The killings have been happening despite the ongoing intense security operation in the neighbouring Tiaty sub-county to seize illegal guns and flush out armed criminals. 

This follows the killing of a GSU operation commander in Ameyan area while two other officers were seriously injured near the banditry prone Kapedo. 

The massive disarmament was launched in the region early this year, following the spate of attacks that have claimed many lives.