Tension is high along the border between the two counties and more than 1,000 people have fled from their homes fearing retaliatory attacks.
Pokot South MP David Pkosing and his Sigor counterpart Peter Lochakapong stormed the station after police arrested the suspect Jackson Kibet at the Moi Referral Hospital.
Kibet was taking care of his brother who is admitted in ICU at the hospital. He was among those injure when bandits suspected to be from Marakwet raided Chemusto area in Pokot on Friday. Two of the raiders were killed in a gun fight between the two neighbouruing communities.
“We have come here because the man arrested is innocent and was just taking care of his injured brother. It’s the Pokot community which was attacked and we cannot thus be suspects”, said Pkosing.
He said police had failed to arrest five key suspects who were involved in the raid and instead went for innocent people.
“We want the man arrested to be released unconditionally because he is innocent”, said Pkosing.
Pkosing and Lochakapong said although tension was high in the areathey had asked the residents to remain calm as the insecurity matter was being handled.
Police in the volatile region have been placed on high alert following fears of an upsurge in violence heading into the festive season.
The first attacks earlier took place in Sewes, Marakwet East subcounty. Residents fear the attackers were out to kill and not to
steal cattle.
“No livestock was stolen. The first victim was waylaid and shot dead by bandits. The reservist was killed when he responded to the distress call,” a witness said.Those killed were Kenya Police Reservist Luka Suter, 30, and villager Joel Kirotich, 35. The bodies were taken to Iten County Referral Hospital mortuary.
Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen flew to the area and appealed for calm. “Such attacks are acts we do not wish to witness again. Peace had returned to this region and we ask the police to ensure the bandits do not kill our people again,” he said.
He also told residents to remain peaceful and resist carrying out retaliatory attacks, which would further spread the violence.
In Baringo, two people including a Tugen herder were shot dead by suspected Pokot bandits in the other attack.
Earlier this week, a herder was killed in the same area and hundreds of livestock stolen. Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner Dr Ahmed Omar has directed chiefs and other security officers to ensure the attacks do not take place again.
Governors John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Stanley Kiptis (Baringo) have been working on joint peace programmes between communities in the North Rift.
“We have made a lot of progress in dealing with banditry and we will work to ensure the attacks are a thing of the past,” Lonyangapuo said. The Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) is also in the process of building two mega-dams at Arror and Kimwarer, which will help to improve the lives of residents in the North Rift.