Deputy President William Ruto’s shoot-to-kill order on bandits causing havoc in Kerio Valley has sparked tension among the communities living in the area.
This is after residents of West Pokot County took to the streets to protest and threatened to cause violence if the deputy president's order is not revoked.
The locals further expressed fear that people mainly from the Pokot community would lose their lives.
The residents pleaded with President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and offer a better solution to the problem, adding that he should take charge of security matters in the country.
According to the residents, Ruto could have made the decision due to some political differences he had with some leaders in the region.
Ruto issued the shoot-to-kill order during a visit in Sibilo, Baringo North, where he stated that armed bandits should no longer be shown mercy.
"Armed criminals who can dare kill a two-day-old baby can do anything and should not be spared but face the same consequences… I am issuing an order to police officers and police reservists to shoot any bandit they come across.” the DP said while issuing the order.
On Monday, in a bid to emphasise his order, Ruto announced that the Kerio Valley belt would be gazetted as a dangerous area for a security operation to flush out cattle rustlers.
He also handed weapons and more police reservists, aerial support technology, and the establishment of emergency police posts to ensure the bandits are flushed out of the area.
More than 10 people have been killed while more than 10,000 others have been displaced in the on-going attack in Kerio Valley.
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