- The four were killed by GSU officers who were heading to Mombasa on Thursday.
- Matiangi promised to ensure the schools are reopened and fenced.
Image: CYRUS OMBATI
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Friday apologised for the killing of four protesters in Masimba, Kajiado county by police officers.
The four were killed by GSU officers who were heading to Mombasa on Thursday.
The protesters had blocked the road and the officers tried to intervene to end the chaos when things got out of control.
Seven people suffered bullet injuries.
Matiangi who held a security meeting in the area said the Internal Affairs Unit of the police will investigate the incident.
The residents were protesting against attacks by wild animals following the killing of a teacher by an elephant earlier in the week. The attacks have left several schools closed.
Matiangi promised to ensure the schools are reopened and fenced. He said the government will pay Sh1.2 billion to compensate all the victims of human-wildlife conflicts in the area.
Meanwhile, the government will impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Elgeyo Marakwet to mount security operation against banditry and deadly conflicts in the area.
Matiang’i announced a massive disarmament operation will be launched alongside social development interventions to restore order in the area and other parts of the North Rift.
“We are beginning to draw two critical exercises that we want to do which include reorganising deployment in that area and declaration of a curfew subject to clearance by the National Security Council so that we can have an intensive operation similar to the one we launched in Marsabit,” he said.
The CS blamed the insecurity incidences on political incitement and expressed frustrations at the lack of goodwill and cooperation from area leaders.
He compared the insecurity in Kerio Valley to the situation in Marsabit county, where an ongoing security operation has restored peace.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)