Rift Valley MPs to issue statement on unrelenting bandit attacks

The lawmakers are disturbed that attacks on innocent people are still being reported

In Summary
  • The MPs will be led by Marakwet East legislator David Kongongo.
  • Their statement will come just days after bandits staged a daytime retaliatory attack in the volatile Seretion village in Baringo South on Sunday.
Bandit attack victims in a makeshift structure at Karoko bushes in Sibilo, Saimo-soi ward, Baringo North.
BANDIT VICTIMS: Bandit attack victims in a makeshift structure at Karoko bushes in Sibilo, Saimo-soi ward, Baringo North.
Image: FILE

MPs from Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot will issue a statement over violence in the Rift Valley.

The lawmakers are disturbed that attacks on innocent people are still being reported even after the police and military launched a joint operation to wipe out bandits.

“The agenda of the briefing will be to discuss continued cases of insecurity in Kerio Valley and other conflict zones despite the deployment of security forces,” read a media invite.

The MPs will be led by Marakwet East legislator David Kongongo.

Their statement will come just days after bandits staged a daytime retaliatory attack in the volatile Seretion village in Mochongoi ward, Baringo South on Sunday.

They injured a police reservist and made away with over 200 livestock.

An operation to disarm warring parties in the troubled Rift Valley region has been off to a slow start.

A three-day amnesty period for people to hand in illegal weapons resulted in the handover of just three guns.

Most of the fighting has been between communities over grazing land and livestock made worse by the ongoing severe drought.

President William Ruto promised to act tough on insecurity in troubled areas of the North Rift region and other parts of the country, which have been hit hard.

He ordered the Kenya Defence Forces to conduct a joint security operation with the police in all banditry-prone areas to combat lawlessness, which has hampered education and development and caused tensions among communities.

The violence has claimed more than 100 civilians and six police officers in the past six months.

The operation is being carried out in Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties.

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