• The Kerio Valley includes Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu and parts of Turkana counties.
• Professionals from the Marakwet community protested in Eldoret town demanding government action to stop killings, cattle rustling.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
At least 107 people have been killed by bandits in the five counties of the Kerio Valley in six months.
More than 12 people have been killed in two weeks.
The numbers are the latest figures from law enforcement agencies but officers admit the actual number is probably higher since many deaths are not reported.
The counties are Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu and parts of Turkana.
Professionals from the Marakwet community in Eldoret town protested against the lawlessness, demanding government action to restore peace to the valley of death.
Civil society groups have also deployed teams to carry out surveys on human rights violations in the region.
The professionals led by Nelson Kiprono, Ken Chemase and Elizabeth Cherono said more than 1,000 children were out of schools due to insecurity while all development activities had stalled.
Kiprono said they want President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior CS Fred Matiang'i to enforce tough measures to end banditry in the region.
A massive, multi-agency operation was carried out in parts of Laikipia to end banditry and pacify the region.
“The records we have indicate we have lost more than 107 people in the last six month and the banditry attacks are worsening daily," Cherono said.
Six bodies of people killed by bandits are still lying at a morgue in Tot area.
The protests by 10 Marakwet professionals came just few days after four people, including three school pupils and a herder, were killed by bandits at Tot.
“We are pleading with the government to intervene and ensure the lives of our people are safe," Kiprono said.
He said the killing of children and women was unacceptable and many schools remain closed due to the insecurity problem.
“We wonder what the government means when Education CS George Magoha talks of 100 per cent transition yet our children have been out of schools for long and cannot transit to anywhere,” Kiprono said.
Governors in the region have also called on government to act on the runaway banditry.
Outgoing governor for Uasin Gishu Jackson Mandago who is also chairman of the North Rift Economic Bloc accused the government of laxity.
“We have given the government our proposals several times on long-term solutions to the banditry problem. There has been little action to implement them yet many people continue to lose their lives," Mandago said.
An additional 200 police officers have been deployed in Kerio Valley to beef up security following the recent spate of killings by bandits where the death toll stands at more than 12 people in two weeks.
Among those deployed include contingents of GSU officers and those from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit.
The three county commissioners held an emergency security meeting in Tot which is the epicentre of the latest banditry. They laid out plans for improved security operations in the area.
Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner John Korir, Baringo's Abdirisak Jaldesa and West Pokot's Apollo Okelo together with police commanders and other security commandant's pledged to ensure order is restored.
"The government has deployed extra police officers to man the affected area as we put in place other security measures," Korir said.
The county chiefs said they would also engage communities and leaders in the region to participate in peace and unity efforts.
“Our leaders and communities have the largest role to play in security matters because the criminals live within the communities," Korir said,
(Edited by V. Graham)