Suspects in Kerio Valley killings are police reservists –state official

An administrator has claimed that suspected bandits who killed two pupils in Kerio Valley Sunday are security agents.

County Commissioner Ahmed Omar yesterday said they were shocked to realise that national police reservists (NPRs) recruited to restore calm in the volatile region were turning their guns on innocent residents.

Kiprono Kilimo, a Class Five at Chesawach Primary School, and Collins Kemboi, a Grade Three pupil at Embomir Primary School, were shot dead in a fresh bout of violence in Marakwet East.

Their deaths sparked protests from residents and the school community, with the teachers warning that they would boycott work due to rising insecurity.

At least 30 cows are said to have been stolen during the raid.

“Police officers have so far arrested two suspects. We have established that they are national police reservists. One of the suspects is in police custody while another one is receiving treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital after he was shot in the stomach during the attack,” Mr Omar told The Standard.

The administrator said five raiders were later shot dead and 20 firearms recovered from NPRs suspected of misusing the weapons.

“Some NPRs are doing a good job. It is, however, disturbing that others are misusing their firearms. We are in the process of vetting them afresh and recovering more Government-issued guns,” said Omar.

The commissioner said the Government had deployed more security officers to the area to protect the students.

“Students of Tot Secondary closed school today (yesterday) and we escorted them using police vehicles to ensure they reached home safely,” he said.

On Tuesday, lawmakers condemned the killings and asked the Government to issue guns to teachers to protect themselves and their pupils.