At least one person killed in Narok, Baringo clashes

Turkana South Member of Parliament James Lomenen now wants Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to beef up security in the area following yet another bandit attack that left at least one person dead.

Lomenen urged the IG to deploy armored vehicles and increase security personnel in the region in a bid to save the situation.

This comes barely two days after one person was shot dead and another injured after more than 50 armed bandits believed to be from Pokot County launched a 4-hour attack on a grazing field in Lobokat and made away with over 800 goats and sheep towards Amolem In Sigor Constituency.

The raid that was near Kainuk Police Station has heightened tension in the largely pastoral region forcing residents to flee their homes in search of safety.

The fear of being robbed has also forced motorists to avoid using the Kainuk-Orwa Marich Road.

This latest attack is thought to have reignited sustained conflict between the communities of West Pokot and Turkana whose area is said to be in a fierce border tussle.

Meanwhile, West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo has accused police of using excessive force to evict Pokot youth herding cattle in the region.

On Wednesday, police issued a 7-hour ultimatum to the residents of Kiserian, Nosukro and Mukutani to vacate their homes to allow police to carry out an operation to flush out the bandits.

According to local residents, members of the Pokot community who have been taking their cattle to graze in Baringo South, an already depleted grazing land, are accused of also stealing cattle from their neighbours.

A standoff currently persists between security officers and the bandits.

Elsewhere in Transmara, the number of those killed in renewed inter community clashes has risen to 15 over the past 2 weeks.

The communities are tussling over renewed cases of cattle theft.

Several other people have been injured and property of unknown value destroyed in the fighting.