Tension is high in Kerio Valley following an attack where two primary school pupils were among three people shot dead by bandits in Koitumo area, Marakwet East Sub-County on Monday March 3, 2025 in the evening in a suspected retaliatory attack.
The incident was confirmed by area chief Lawrence Mutwol, who explained that the two school children were among three people that were killed by bandits from neighbouring communities.
Mutwol urged the national government to intervene in restoring peace in the Kerio Valley region, to avoid similar attacks in future.
At the same time, Police reported that the incident was a retaliatory attack, after bandits from Marakwet side of Kerio Valley attacked herdsmen of a neighbouring community on Monday at around 2.00pm and escaped with an unknown number of cattle.
During the Monday afternoon incident, one of the herdsmen was shot dead as their cattle were stolen.
Meanwhile, on Monday evening, bandits believed to be from Ngirici area of Tiaty West conducted a retaliatory attack and killed three people.
“It has since been confirmed by the security forces on the ground that the three people killed include two children aged 12 and 9 years, pupils at Kimogo Primary School, who were fetching water at Emboput River, and a 50 year old man who was fetching firewood,” read part of the police report.
Bodies of the victims were removed to Tot General Hospital.
However, police reported that KDF soldiers, GSU officers and National Police Reservists (NPR) have been involved in the operation to track the raiders and recover the stolen livestock.
