Two people including school boy dead in fresh Pokot bandits attack in Baringo

Two people including a school boy were shot dead after suspected armed Pokot bandits attacked Ng'aratuko, Baringo North Sub-county on Saturday.

13-year old class six boy at Kosile primary school Kiptuisang Lemugan and a herder Endao and Ageno were killed before the pokot bandits drove away over 600 goats towards Seretion in Tiaty Sub-county.

The goats belonged to the deceased and four other families when the armed bandits raided Yatya, Kagir and Natan villages at 12.00 pm.

Reports say the attackers made series of unreported raids in the area since Wednesday stealing over 900 goats belonging to the Tugens.

Richard Chepchomei, Chemoe resident said the deadly attacks happen in the watch of security officers at Kagir, yatya and Loruk police stations.

Chepchomei also accused the government for not commanding the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers camped at Loruk trading centre to repulse the bandits.

“We are shocked why the government is just watching as people are being killed like rats and their animals stolen in broad day light” He said.

He noted that since President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto ordered KDF three months ago to conduct forceful operation to flush out the armed pokot bandits, nothing has since been done.

The Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) deployed to man the porus borders of Baringo North and South were also overpowered by the bandits, says Chepchomei.

On Wednesday, the bandits also made their way to raid Arabal in Baringo South Sub-county and stole over 300 heads of cattle belonging to Tugen and Ilchamus communities.

Baringo North Assistant Deputy County Commissioner Mohammed Sheh Mohammed confirmed the incident saying there was no casualty reported during the attack.

Mohamed said police officers were already in a tough pursuit to recover the stolen livestock. He said tension is still in the area as the bandits blocked Loruk-Natan-Yatya junction making the roads impassable.

Thousands of residents were now fleeing the area fearing more attacks, but "we are urging them to maintain calm as the government works to restore sanity" said Mohamed.

On Thursday, Tiaty Sub-county Deputy Assistant County Commissioner Rogers Ochieng warned Pokots against attacking and stealing from the neighbouring Tugen, Marakwet and Ilchamus pastoral communities.

"I know rainy season is here and Pokot herders are set to return their animals from grazing across the borders, so I urge them to move back peacefully without stealing from their neighbors" said Ochieng.

He was accompanying the officers from Kenya Red-cross and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) while issuing out relief foodstuff to hungry residents in Kolowa division on Thursday.