•More than 110 people have been killed by bandits in the region, including in Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, parts of Samburu and Turkana.
• However, since the start of national exams two weeks ago, attacks have declined due to tighter security, especially around schools.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
Residents have been begging, praying for the return of withdrawn National Police Reservists to fight cattle rustlers and bandits.
Their prayers have now been answered with an initial deployment of 200 NPRs to improve security in the Kerio Valley.
It is part of a plan to gradually restore NPRs after vetting and training to other troubled spots.
They had been withdrawn because some were too old, ineffective, involved in crime, banditry and corruption. NPRs were revetted and new ones recruited and placed under police commanders. They are especially useful because they know the territory.
The 200 have mostly been deployed in Baringo county where they are helping to secure the KCSE exams.
Baringo county commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa said the government will use all means possible to ensure banditry is tackled in the region where it has paralysed most development activities.
“We are ensuring we restore peace and security and that is why we are also deploying the NPRs in areas where we think they will be useful in beefing up security," Jaldesa said.
More than 110 people have been killed by bandits in affected counties including Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, parts of Samburu and Turkana.
However, since the start of the national exams two weeks ago, attacks have declined in the region due to enhanced security, especially around schools.
Rift Valley regional commissioner Maalim Mohammed also issued a shoot-to-kill order against bandits who have been defeating all government measures to restore security.
“We will not tolerate these gangs anymore. We may not publicly say what we are doing but the results will be felt," Maalim said when he visited the region last week.
Teachers unions Knut and Kuppet have insisted the government maintains tight security around schools in Kerio Valley, even after successful completion of the KCPE and KCSE exams.
Union officials led by Sammy Borr and Peter Biwott said the same tough security measures must be applied ahead of the KCSE exams.
Biwott said children must be given a chance to study like others in the country while residents must always be provided security so they can earn a livelihood and engage in development.
“If the government maintains tight security in the region then the bandits will have no place to thrive and our people will enjoy peace," Borr said.
Bishops and pastors from North Rift counties have also launched a fresh bid to help end banditry in Kerio Valley through spiritual intervention measures involving local communities.
The clergymen have started an initiative called Amani Kerio Valley. It will promote inter-community activities to foster peace and unity.
Bishop Maurice Crowley of the Catholic Diocese of Kitale and Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop Emmanuel Chemengich chaired the meeting where the church leaders backed government efforts.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos saids they want the government to quickly roll out deployment of the full NPR programme to work alongside other security teams in the region.
Local leaders have also intensified peace and unity meetings among communities in the Kerio Valley.
(Edited by V. Graham)