One person killed by suspected Pokot bandits in Kerio Valley

A man armed with a bow and arrows stands guard at Chesongoch trading centre in Marakwet East. One more person was on March 27, 2017 killed by suspected Pokot bandits at Kakisegei in Kerio Valley. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Deputy County Commissioner Eric Mulevu said the Monday incident happened at around 11am.
  • Hundreds of Pokot warriors now running away from the ongoing military operation in Baringo.
  • Dr Tororei said the regions where people are fighting need to be opened up.

One more person was Monday gunned down in Kerio Valley by suspected Pokot bandits.

Jacob Kinainai, 32, was killed at Kakisegei after being ambushed as he herded livestock near the newly established Chemuui police camp.

Security chiefs told the Nation that hundreds of Pokot warriors running away from the ongoing military operation in Baringo have moved to the banks of River Kerio and are killing anyone they encounter.

Alarm has been raised regarding the movement of armed herders to the banks of River Kerio after the deployment of military officers in some parts of Baringo County in the past one week.

Elgeyo-Marakwet Deputy County Commissioner Eric Mulevu said the Monday incident happened at around 11am.

53 KILLED

Meanwhile, National Land Commission officials and Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos Monday lit candles during a seminar at Kerio River Lodge in memory of 53 people killed in the ongoing conflict.

The seminar dubbed “Second Dialogue on Land and Human Security” also brought together officials from the National Drought Management Authority, community elders and religious leaders alongside officials from counties drawn from the North Rift region.

Land Commissioner Samuel Tororei said the insecurity witnessed in Kerio Valley between the Marakwet and the Pokot is historical and is not unique to other conflicts among pastoralists in the rest of the country.

Dr Tororei said the regions where people are fighting need to be opened up.

He said roads in the region ought to be constructed to ease communication and introduce services, which will go a long way in changing the mind-set of the communities living in those areas.