The government has increased security in Kerio Valley to protect schools preparing for exams and ensure residents are not attacked by bandits.
Each of about 100 schools will be guarded by two armed police officers.
Rift Valley regional coordinator George Natembeya has ordered more patrols to prevent cattle rustling and bandit attacks.
The most targeted areas are long the borders between West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties. They have suffered increased banditry attacks in the past month.
“We are not taking any chances. We will ensure school operations are not disrupted as children prepare for national exams early next year,” Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner Dr Omar Ahmed said.
In the last attack on Sunday, two more men were shot dead by bandits near Tot in Kerio Valley amid rising tensions in the region
Marakwet East MP Bowen Kangogo and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen demanded President Uhuru Kenyatta intervene to ensure security is restored.
Four attacks have been reported in two days.
Kangogo insisted National Police Reservists should be deployed to help communities protect themselves.
“The police officers we have in Kerio Valley are unable to control banditry. As local leader, we think it's tie the government reintroduced," he said.
The government has said it will revive the deployment of NPRs in the Kerio Valley. They will be carefully vetted under a restructured plan to ensure proper management and accountable use of weapons.
Natembeya has said the officers will be trained and deployed in an orderly manner so that they are properly remunerated and put under a commander of the National Police Service.
He said the government would ensure proper management and supervision of the NPRs, especially concerning the use of arms.
He said the NPR programme had not been abolished but was suspended for purposes of replanning.
The revival plan will take time and county commissioners have been ordered to use the security personnel and installations in place to ensure banditry is stopped.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos said they are working with the Interior ministry on long-term measures to end the attacks.
“We are talking about putting in place better roads, rural electrification and other deliberate development programmes. They will target marginalised areas like Tiaty that are used by bandits as hideouts," Tolgos said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
