Tragedy struck Baringo County on Thursday when two individuals, a Kibabii University student, and a police reservist, fell victim to a fresh bandit attack, reigniting fears of insecurity in the region.
The unsettling incident occurred at Kiriamet village in Baringo North, casting a pall over economic activities as residents express deep concern about the resurgence of lawlessness.
The two unfortunate victims were in the midst of a honey-harvesting endeavor around 7 pm when the bandits ruthlessly gunned them down. Frightened by this alarming act of violence, residents are already fleeing the area, and schools have been forced to shut down.
Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing its dire consequences for the peace and stability of the entire county.
The local chief, Wilson Chelagat, has made a fervent plea to the government, urging the immediate deployment of additional police officers to ensure the safety of the residents.
This bandit attack comes just days after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had assured residents of enhanced security measures, including the deployment of officers and the establishment of additional Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camps in the area. He had pledged to put an end to banditry across the country and recently inaugurated an anti-stock theft camp in Isiolo North Sub-County’s Mulango area, notorious for banditry.
The government has escalated its efforts, implementing various measures such as deploying more officers, imposing curfews, and establishing camps to address the ongoing security challenges.
In a stern move, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued a 7-day ultimatum on September 13 to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers and local chiefs from Marakwet, Pokot, and Baringo to tackle the insecurity issues in the region.
Baringo County has been grappling with persistent banditry attacks, resulting in loss of lives and widespread fear. In August, President William Ruto ordered the deployment of 3,000 police officers to secure Baringo County and oversee the reconstruction of 44 schools, aiming to restore normalcy to the region.
