Baringo, Kenya: Tension is high in Arabal area of Marigat after a retired KDF soldier from Pokot community and his son were ambushed and shot dead, their vehicle set on fire and bodies burnt beyond recognition by unknown assailants.
According to witnesses, the former KDF man and a renown sniper Peter Kokoon Todokin and his two children a boy and a girl were driving from Mochongoi area towards Loruk when the incident happened but luckily the girl was spared.
The incident has however sparked fears among the locals in villages such as Kasiela,Arabal and Kapindasum as the locals fear for retaliatory attack from the bandits.
Baringo County AP Commandant Elisha Odhiambo who confirmed the incident said the incident is believed to be a retaliatory attack after over 1,000 heads of cattle were stolen from Arabal barley a week ago.
"The incident happened Sunday evening where assailants suspected to be from Arabal area ambushed the man said to be a retired army man from Pokot, shooting and killing him together with son as the girl escaped,"said Odhiambo.
He said the culprits after killing the duo, set the vehicle on fire as the survivor ran to a nearby AP camp to report the incident adding that bodies of the two have since been moved to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital mortuary.
Local leader led by Governor Benjamin Cheboi condemned the incident and asked the National Government and the security apparatus to act swiftly to bring all the perpetrators of this and each and every barbaric atrocity to book.
"I learnt of the brutal killing of Peter Kokon and his son at Kasiela with profound shock, regret and disbelieve.This and other happenings leading to the senseless loss of life are to say the least disturbing and unacceptable,"said Cheboi.
He described the slain man as industrious and peace-loving Kenyan who was playing a lead role in bringing peace between the people of Baringo.
Cheboi however called on the county to desist from acts of violence and instead embrace peaceful coexistence.
At his Loruk home, it was sombre mood as locals received the news of the slain KDF officer who was well-known in the area.
Kokoon, according to Silah Lotulia,a relative had just returned from Ethiopia where he had been appointed by the government to spearhead a peace mission.
"He was a peace-loving man.We don't know the motive of the killers. We need the government to investigate and arrest those behind the heinous act," he said.
Area MCA Kibet Cheretei has asked county leaders to join hands and conduct a peace mission along the Tugen-Pokot border to avoid retaliatory attacks.
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"The killing is unfortunate and i condemn it with strongest words possible. Leaders should come together and start preaching peace," said the MCA.
The incident follows another attack on Wednesday where suspected bandits attacked a convoy of 30 police officers at Komolion in East Pokot as they were heading to Kabarnet from pursuing stolen livestock.
A month ago, 21 officers were killed at Kapedo area along Turkana-Baringo Border before making away with their firearms which 19 out of 21 were later recovered after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued an ultimatum.
Baringo County commissioner Peter Okwanyo has revealed over 50,000 illegal arms are in the hands of civilians.
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