Tension is high as armed bandits lay fresh attack stealing some 70 head of cattle in Mochongoi, Baringo South on Thursday.
Residents suspect the bandits may have fled the ongoing tough operation in Laikipia and crossed over to take refuge in parts of Baringo county.
“They surrounded, shot and scared residents before making away with the animals,” Baringo South Deputy County Commissioner Job Anunda said on Friday.
He said nobody was injured during the 3pm attack, adding that security officers have already been deployed to pursue the criminals who disappeared towards the neighbouring Tiaty subcounty.
Mochongoi MCA Kipruto Kimosop said tension is high at Lamaiywe, Kapkechir, Ng’elecha, Arabal and Naromoru villages currently inhabited by the armed bandits.
He accused GSU officers at Kapndasum and the Rapid Deployment Unit in Kasiela of failing to respond quickly to lay ambush and help recover the stolen livestock.
Reportedly, the resurgent bandits are currently hiding and grazing thousands of their livestock in Arabal, Kapndasum, Kasiela and Ruggus areas in Baringo South.
“They have fled and camped in those areas after fleeing the ongoing Laikipia operation which kicked off last week” Anunda said.
But he said recommendations have already been made to contain the situation.
On Wednesday, the brazen bandits killed a 60-year old herder Charles Maina at Ol’moran in Laikipia, stealing 30 head of cattle.
Earlier on, the bandits shot dead eight people including two security officers, torched houses rendering some residents homeless.
Extension of attacks
Elsewhere, residents of Baringo North subcounty are living in fear that the armed bandits might strike their area again any time.
“They are now in Baringo South and Laikipia just a few kilometres away, nothing will prevent them from escaping further to hide in our villages” Chemoe resident Richard Chepchomei said on Friday.
He said residents of Yatya, Loruk, Chemoe and Chepkesin volatile villages along the porous border of Baringo North are now living in fear of attacks.
“No proper measures have been put to contain and repulse the bandits,” Chepchomei said.
He appealed to the government to urgently deploy security personnel to beef up security along the porous Baringo-Laikipia borders.
“Surveillance choppers should even be assigned to identify and smoke out the criminals from their hideouts,” he said.
He further lamented over withdrawal of the National Police Reservists saying they helped police officers to repulse the bandits and recover the stolen animals.
-Edited by SKanyara
