The Uasin Gishu county will conduct a seven-day security operation in Eldoret to rid the town of armed criminal gangs.
The move follows violent clashes and looting by hawkers who clashed with Uasin Gishu county askaris.
Uasin Gishu Deputy governor John Barorot and county commissioner Dr Edisson Nyale led a joint security meeting following the riots which saw a supermarket and several businesses looted.
The two leaders admitted that the main market in the town popularly known as the Champions market had been taken over by more than five armed criminal gangs.
The market will remain closed during the operation to restore sanity.
"We regret what happened and will not allow it to happen again," Barorot said.
He said all those involved in the looting will be brought to book.
"We have resolved that we will carry out a major security operation within seven days to restore sanity in this town," Barorot said.
He said the riots started when county enforcement officers went to evict handcart traders who were operating in non designated areas around the main market in the town.
Barorot said the market has about 998 licenced traders and that about 48 handcart traders had been operating illegally infront of the market.
"We will now move to fully enforce the county bylaws so that all traders and residents work within the law," Barorot said.
The leaders assured traders that high level security would be put in place to enable businesses operate smoothly.
Many affected businesses have remained closed.
