Two primary school pupils and an adult were on Monday, March 3 evening shot dead in a suspected banditry attack in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Preliminary reports indicate that the incident was a retaliatory attack after armed bandits ambushed herders along the Kerio River and killed 17-year-old Longoria Krop.
The headers were driving their cattle to the river for water when the bandits attacked them and sprayed bullets indiscriminately.
The assailants who are suspected to be from Elgeyo Marakwet then stole the herd of cattle and drove them towards Market East.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wesley Rotich in a statement on Tuesday morning condemned the incidents saying they are reversing gains made to bring peace in the region.
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“The few reckless criminals have reversed the many gains we have made but we won’t relent until we find lasting peace. Those criminals want everyone to give up on this war, but we are not stopping until we have children and women live in a safe space,” said Rotich.
He called on the Pokot and Marakwet communities to flush out those behind the banditry attacks and hand them over to the authorities.
“To our communities of Pokot and Marakwet, I request you to please flush out these few criminals in our midst, lynch them or hand them over to the authorities. Let’s make criminal lives unbearable. We can’t suffer because of few people,” the Elgeyo Marakwet Governor stated.
Further, Rotich said he has briefed the Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and local Security agencies on the latest security situation and urged them to take firm action against the bandits.
