Tension remained high in Kerio Valley following the killing of four people including a widow and her two children who were shot dead in broad daylight by bandits as they were harvesting millet at their farm in Kapen.
The fourth victim was a county agricultural extension officer.
Armed bandits shot dead the four people and fled without stealing anything.
The widow was identified as Caroline Kemboi and her two children were 14 and 12 years old. They were pupils at Liter and Sambalat primary schools.
Endo ward agricultural officer Benjamin Sum was shot in the head at Kapkobil along Tot-Chesongoch road, a kilometre from his Tot work station.
The killing sparked off protests from professionals from the Marakwet community and women who accused the Interior ministry of failing to stem banditry in the region.
Residents carried out demonstrations in the area amid fears that several schools may not continue with learning on Monday due to insecurity.
The children killed were grade four pupils. The professionals led by Laxaman Kiptoo said at least 20 people had been killed in the last two months and that the 12-hour night curfew imposed in the area was only working to the advantage of bandits who roam the area at all times.
“Our security teams are unable to deal wit the insecurity problem in Kerio Valley and we are asking the government to deploy Kenya Police Reservists so that they can help protect our people," said Kiptoo.
Additional security officers were deployed in the affected area to help restore calm but residents have decried killings.
Leaders in the area including Senator Kipchumba Murkomen have accused the government of not being serious in ending the killings.
“We wonder for how long our people will be exposed to such suffering yet we have a government that is supposed to protect all of us,” said Murkomen.
In July, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and IG Hillary Mutyambai led security chiefs in visiting the region where they announced security measures to end banditry but the attacks have continued.
Matiang'i imposed a 12-hour night curfew in the area but residents said it was not helping improve security in the region.
“In fact bandits roam everywhere during curfew hours to survey our homes then come to attack in broad daylight,” said a resident Rose Kilimo.
