A herdsman was on Thursday killed and 24 heads of cattle stolen during an attack by suspected bandits of Chesegon area along the West Pokot/Elgeyo Marakwet counties border.
The 12 noon attack left residents along the border worried of the frequent attacks and loss of many lives and livestock stolen.
Confirming the incident, the Pokot Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Were Simiyu said the unknown number of assailants from the neighbouring county ambushed the man who was looking after his cattle spraying him with bullets.
He said the 35 year old man died on the spot as the armed bandits drove the cows towards Elgeyo Marakwet side.
“The man was herding his cows in his own farm which is near Chesogon primary school when he met his death and following which the attackers took away his 25 cows of which only one was later recovered,” he said.
Simiyu observed that the area had been experiencing calm and peace for the last two weeks and wondered what transpired, saying the attack had brought tension again in the area.
“For the past two weeks the area has been peaceful but currently we are liaising with our counterpart Elgeyo Marakwet county security team to ensure that all the cows are recovered.
More police officers have been deployed to the ground to contain the situation and prevent any retaliatory attacks,” he said.
He added that the police officers are searching for the bandits who vanished into thickets with the cows.
One of the residents, Tito Lopuriang put the blame on the government, saying it had failed to provide adequate security to the residents.
He claimed that the insecurity situation in the area had disrupted learning as it created fear among the parents to take their children to school.
“The man has just been killed 100 metres away from the police post. The armoured vehicle is there but it could not prevent the death. This means as residents we have no option but to protect ourselves,” he scoffed.
By John Saina
