Eight people have been killed in Laikipia County following the recent banditry attacks in the region, according to the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya.
Three of those who have died are police officers while the rest are civilians. The deaths happened before the security operation began on Tuesday.
“We cannot continue like this because some people are heavily armed. Only the government should have the monopoly of those tools of terror and violence not civilians. Those who lost their lives are eight, out of these eight are our police officers, while five are civilians,” said Natembeya.
The Regional Commissioner sent a stunning warning to politicians who are believed to have a direct link to the ongoing attacks.
So far, two politicians including Tiaty MP William Kamket and Former Laikipia North Member of Parliament Mathew Lempurkel have been arrested.
Kamket’s arrest was confirmed by Baringo County police boss Robinson Ndiwa. He is currently being held in Nakuru by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers, awaiting arraignment.
The two are accused of financing the youth causing unrest in the region.
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Natembeya said that six people are nursing gunshots after they were attacked by the bandits.
Of the six, two are police officers attacked at their camp, while four are civilians.
This even as Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i declared a dusk to dawn curfew in the region.
Tension continues in Miteta, Mirando, Wangwaci, and Ol Moran areas with residents fleeing the region to the nearby Sipili and Ol Moran trading centers.
The RC revealed that the attacks are now planned, and no longer about cattle rustling but land ownership rows.
Hundreds of families have so far been displaced after arsonists torched more than 40 houses in the region.
