Calm slowly returning to Baragoi

Calm has returned to Baragoi, Samburu North, three days after heightened tension following the killing of 14 people.

County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha said police patrols have been increased and meetings with local leaders are being held to restore and build peace between the two rival communities.

The reopening of schools for second term is also likely to be affected, according to Sub-county Education Officer Joel Murage.

"The situation is still bad. Baragoi Mixed Secondary school had already been affected by the killing of a candidate towards the end of last term," said Murage. He, however, said most schools will reopen Thursday.

Kenya Red Cross Society Representative Aloise Losike said most businesses in Baragoi town remained closed with information that a demonstration had been planned by residents but it did not take place.

Mr Losike said residents no longer trust each other over fear of retaliatory attacks.

"A road leading to Parkati Primary School has been closed to stop relief food from being supplied to the school," he added.

On Sunday, eight people said to have been bandits on a mission to raid a Lomerok Manyatta were killed. And in another attack believed to be a revenge attack on Monday morning at Sarima village bordering Samburu and Marsabit County, six people were killed, including a suspected bandit.

Losike, who witnessed the Lomerok attack, said an unknown number of bandits who had surrounded a Manyatta were repulsed by herders who were guarding the area before they could release the cattle.

"The bandits were found trying to surround the manyatta and fighting started," he said.

Some 27 people have been killed since March this year in over 10 attacks by bandits in broad daylight as rivalry between Samburu and Turkana continues.