Two people were killed while seven others were seriously injured on Sunday, March 20 after armed gunmen in police uniform launched an attack at Koitilial area in Arror, Elgeyo Markwet County.
According to witnesses, a group of armed bandits who are said to have crossed over from Baringo County ambushed locals in their homes on Sunday afternoon.
One of the survivors narrated how the men appeared from the bushes and opened fire at him and other herders while on the farm.
"I was in the farm at about 1 pm when they emerged and started shooting us. There were several men, I decided to flee for my life and brought myself to hospital," he told the media.
The bandits then headed to the Koitialel shopping centre where they destroyed property of unknown value. They also made away with several heads of cattle.
While some managed to scamper to safety, the seven who sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Iten Sub-county hospital and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. The bodies of the two have been taken to the Iten County Referral Hospital Morgue.
Leaders from the region have castigated the government for failing to arrest the situation and allowing bandits to run the show in the area. They further called on the state to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves.
Several candidates sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), especially those in day schools could miss some of the papers are their families have since relocated.
The incident occurred barely a month after buses ferrying students was sprayed with bullets by armed gunmen on February 18 along the Tot-Arror Road.
One person died while several others sustained gunshot wounds when the bandits opened fire at the three buses ferrying students who were on a school trip.
15 students and two teachers from Tot High School were rushed to the Kapsowar Mission School for treatment. Notably, the male and female teacher sustained multiple wounds.
The Ministry of Education blamed the school administration for defying a directive that banned movement of school buses at night. Interior CS Fred Matiang'i later directed that stern action be taken against the school principal, including arrest and prosecution.
