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Contingents of security personnel were mobilized and sent to the area as part of efforts to address the fears.
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More efforts are being made to address the issue, West Pokot county police commander Peter Katam said on Wednesday.
Image: ATTACK
More security personnel were deployed to a village in West Pokot to quell possible clashes following the killing of six people on Tuesday in a botched robbery of livestock.
Police said they fear there will be retaliatory attacks which could be deadly.
Contingents of security personnel were mobilized and sent to the area as part of efforts to address the fears.
More efforts are being made to address the issue, West Pokot county police commander Peter Katam said on Wednesday.
At least six people were Tuesday killed at Lochacha village in West Pokot in a stand-off between cattle rustlers and area residents.
According to the residents, three locals who were pursuing cattle rustlers were allegedly killed by security officers while the residents managed to kill the three rustlers who had made away with an unknown number of goats.
This happened in an ambush that escalated to clashes.
Witnesses and other security officials said at least 16 other people who were injured in the stand-off were admitted to various hospitals nursing head injuries and broken limbs.
Katam said investigations into the matter have started.
He added security agents will enhance operations in the area.
“We have deployed more personnel to ensure residents are in peace,” he said.
West Pokot Deputy Governor Robert Komole urged for urgent action to address the menace.
He said the issue of the National Police Reservists should be addressed.
The area is among those badly affected by insecurity due to cattle rustling.
The gangs behind the trend are so emboldened that they strike at will.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki was in parts of Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu two weeks ago as part of efforts to heighten the war against the gunmen.
He said politics, ethnicity, culture, religion or other affiliations must be separated from the fight against the criminal atrocities perpetrated against the people of Kenya through the terror of bandits.
“The government is determined to permanently destroy the intricate infrastructure of banditry by going for its benefactors, beneficiaries, accessories, planners and executors,” he said then.
He said political and other leaders must refrain from politicising security matters or trying to meddle with security operations to allow the organs and agencies to wage a decisive, ruthless and conclusive war against the impunity and terror of banditry.
He said multi-agency security officers deployed in the six North Rift Valley Counties will remain on the ground for the long haul until the banditry menace is eradicated.