• Meru herders followed bandits after one man was killed and his 120 goats stolen; they killed one unidentified bandit.
• Bandits suspected to be camel herders from neighbouring Isiolo county
Two people have been killed in Meru in retaliatory attacks on herders by bandits.
Bandits on Sunday night attacked a village in Tigania East killing one man and stoling his 120 goats. Meru pastoralists, following up to return the goats, are said to have killed an unidentified bandit at Gambella along the Meru-Isiolo border.
The attackers suspected to be camel herders from neighbouring Isiolo county invaded Lanyiru where they shot a man identified as Akindoo M’Imathiu.
Akindoo, 69, is said to be a relative to Trade CS Peter Munya and is from Nkathuine in Lanyiru.
He was tethering his goats in their shed when the attackers shot him dead.
Lanyiru chief Japhet Mwenda said Akindoo is renowned pastoralist of the Antubaita family clan; just as Munya.
Tigania East DCIO Benson Omondi confirmed the incident saying officers were on the ground investigating and pursuing the attackers.
Residents, CS Munya and EALA MP Mpuru Aburi have accused area MP Gichunge Kabeabea of failing in his promises to secure the banditry-prone Muthara and Karama.
Resident Mugambi Esra asked the government to rearm the National Police Reservists.
“People are losing lives now and then to bandits. For how long we continue crying over insecurity? It is the role of the MP to improve security but he has failed. If he is unable to lobby for measures to curb insecurity, why can’t he support the community with manpower to protect selves?" he asked.
Two weeks ago, Peter Loolo was shot dead at Ntangilia in Tigania East by attackers who are said to have brought their camels to Meru for pasture.
Loolo, 60, was walking from his farm towards his home when he was sprayed with bullets. He died on arrival at Miathene Subcounty Hospital.
Two girls, one at Lachathuriu and the other at Kandebene, were also reportedly raped.
Former police reservist Stanley Karithi told the Star on the phone on Monday that Lanyiru, Ntangila and Kandebene are worst hit.
He questioned the reluctance to return firearms to police reservists in Tigania.
Munya and Aburi accused Kabeabea of inefficiency in driving out camels grazing in locals' farms which has increased insecurity and developed to conflicts.
Kabeabea said he had met the security team in the constituency and raised the concern to Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho whom he said promised to take action.
The lawmaker said by Monday next week, the armed herders will have been driven away for farmers to tend their farms.
He said he has built two Administration Police camps in efforts to beef up security.
Munya said he will reach out to Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to ensure the herders are flashed out.
In September last year, three police reservists were killed at Kalua in Igembe Central during a retaliatory attack by bandits.
Then acting Igembe Central police boss Rashid Hulbale said two other reservists sustained gunshot wounds during the ambush.
Edited by R.Wamochie