Tension is mounting in Silale, East Pokot, after suspected raiders from neighbouring Turkana County shot and killed two brothers and injured their sister before making away with 342 goats.
According to witnesses, the armed raiders, believed to be from Lomelo and Baragoi, invaded the village and indiscriminately sprayed bullets into the victim's homestead.
The dead brothers have been identified as Kasait Cholia, 24, and Lochom, 22. Their 18-year-old sister, Kesinet, has eight bullets lodged in her body and is being treated at Kabarnet District Hospital.
The incident has caused fear among residents, with many fleeing to safer areas thus limiting their access to healthcare from Kapedo Dispensary, which is the closest facility.
Confirming the incident, Deputy Commissioner Daniel Kurui said the security team in East Pokot was liaising with their counterparts in Turkana Central to pursue the attackers.
RISING INSECURITY
"The night raid was an unfortunate incident that we are working on with our Turkana County colleagues in order to bring the culprits to book as well as recover the stolen livestock," Mr Kurui said.
Local leaders led by MCA Nelson Lotela have complained about deteriorating security along the Turkana-Baringo border, saying more than 10 people have been killed in the area in the last two months.
"In August, we lost seven people; this month, we have lost four. How many people must die before the Government realises that the insecurity in this area is serious? We need action," Mr Lotela said.
The MCA said ethnic animosity between the two pastoral communities was an impediment to peace in the area where the two have to share the public facilities available.
"Nowadays, Kapedo is a no-go zone. Health centres and market places where both communities have been getting services and selling their livestock and farm produce are now tense due to these killings," he said.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi said the county government would recruit community policing officers.
He also said the administration would start paying allowances to Kenya Police Reservists in order to boost morale so they could combat insecurity.
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