Bandits yesterday shot dead two primary school pupils during a raid near Tot in Marakwet East.
The attackers sprayed the children with bullets and took off with more than 200 livestock towards River Kerio.
The children aged below 11 years were from Chesowach and Embomir primary schools. They were killed near their home in Endo ward, Marakwet East constituency.
This year, more than 10 people among them a clinical officer and traders, have been shot in the same area.
Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Wisley Kiptoo wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene. He wants him to help deal with the deteriorating security situation in Kerio Valley following the killing of the Standard 4 and Standard 5 pupils.
Police from Tot police station pursued the bandits but no one was arrested and tension is high in the area as villagers fear retaliatory attacks.
“When people kill school children because of stupidly and banditry, then we are heading in the wrong direction as a country," Kiptoo said in a statement.
He said county governments in the volatile region are unable to deal with the insecurity. Efforts by elders from the warring communities to dialogue have not been successful.
“We are asking the national government to take charge and ensure that the security problem in Kerio Valley is dealt with so that our people can live in peace like other Kenyans,"Kiptoo said.
He said he has written to Interior CS Fred Matiang'i over the challenges in Kerio Valley.
Marakwet East MP Bowen Kangogo condemned the killing of the children. He was scheduled to hold a meeting in the area.
