Hundreds of residents at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet are sleeping in snake-infested caves following fresh violence in the Kerio Valley.
Attackers from both sides have for the last three days been shooting in the air in preparation for war.
This was after five people were shot dead after suspected Marakwet bandits raided Chesegon, West Pokot, on Friday.
The body of
Nathan Korir, a 19-year-old who was
shot during the raid, is still missing.
Efforts to recover
Korir's
body were rendered futile
after bandits repulsed police officers in armoured personnel cars on Sunday.
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Pokot herders are said to be gearing
for a major retaliatory attack as more than 300 cows, 663 goats and 16 sheep were stolen.
“There were reports that Pokot bandits were regrouping in a plan to raid several villages. The raiders have been shooting in the air every night since Friday,” Wilson Kiptoo,
a resident, said.
Kiptoo said women and children were sleeping in the cold and inside dangerous
caves in the escarpments for fear of bandits.
"Bandits from both sides are spoiling for a fight since the stolen livestock have not been recovered," he said.
On Monday, security agencies in Marakwet were held up in meetings to find ways to restore calm.
Marakwet East deputy county commissioner Stephen Sangolo said they were looking into lasting solutions to the problem.
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