Transporters demand security along Kapenguria- Lodwar route over bandit attacks.

LODWAR, KENYA: Commuters plying the Kapenguria - Lodwar route have called for security measures to stem increased wave of insecurity in areas along the West Pokot and Turkana Counties border.

This comes in the wake of the recent killing of two people at Lami Nyeusi near the Turkwel Junction, an act that has sparked tension in the volatile border region.

Areas between Lami Nyeusi in West Pokot and Kaakong in Turkana have been prone to banditry attacks with raiders, maiming, killing and stealing livestock.

But concern has been raised that cattle rustlers have also turned into highway robbers and attack unsuspecting motorists and robbing them of their valuables.

The dense thickets on both sides of the dilapidated highway have been known to harbor bandits who disappear immediately after committing robbery on motorists.

A motorist plying the route Ahmed Hussein decried that it was very tricky to drive along the route citing that most drivers have to wait for one another at Ortum while heading towards Lodwar so they can move in fleets along the trouble areas.

"We often stop and wait for our colleagues so that we can pass the areas in a fleet and this is not only time wasting but risky as well," he said.

He called for increased police patrols along the route to keep bandits at bay and ensure commuters plying the route are not attacked and robbed of their valuables.

Further, the commercial truck driver challenged the Government to fulfill its pledge to rehabilitate the pathetic road saying bandits are taking advantage of the slowing down of vehicles in the myriad potholes to attack unsuspecting motorists.