Armed bandits made away with 21 cows from Kamelei, Marakwet East as cattle rustling attacks on the Elgeyo Marakwet-West Pokot border escalated on Monday.
Locals said the cows were stolen near Kamelei primary school, one of the institutions affected by insecurity on the troubled border on Monday.
Three people were shot dead in two separate attacks at the border on Sunday and Monday last week.
Edwin Ruto, a resident, said locals pursued the stolen cows but they gave up after discovering the bandits were hiding the stolen livestock in a remote area in West Pokot.
He accused GSU officers at a camp established in the area to fight armed bandits of declining to help villagers pursue the stolen cows even after several pleas.
Ruto said: "There is presence of security personnel on the ground but they are not doing much. In fact, animals are stolen despite their presence."
He added: "We have pleaded with the state to take a decisive action against this menace but it appears like the government is waiting for people to kill themselves so that it responds."
He said pupils have not returned to Kamelei, Kalya and Tenderwa after locals fled the area amid tension.
Marakwet East deputy county commissioner Stephen Sangolo said he has called his Pokot central counterpart and asked him to aid in recovery of the stolen cows.
"We are pursuing the suspects and we are confident that all the animals will be recovered," Sangolo said.
Security officials and leaders from Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot county held a crisis meeting on the border on Tuesday.
Kapyego MCA Evans Limo accused the government of not taking tangible steps to recover the stolen livestock and arrest the culprits.
"It is my hope that the crisis meeting will come up with a solution that will bring a lasting peace on the border," the MCA said.
Elgeyo Governor Alex Tolgos and other leaders have been leading peace talks to end the fights in the county.
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