Bandits are wreaking terror on Baringo roads in an evolving trend where they no longer stage attacks solely for livestock theft, but now ambush traders and motorists in broad daylight in highway robberies.
The criminals have turned into highway robbers, taking control of certain roads in the county, where they ambush unsuspecting road users, rob them, and shoot at them.
The latest incident occurred on Monday when armed criminals attacked a convoy of lorries ferrying traders and goods to Chemolingot in Tiaty West.
The convoy, which was under police escort, was ambushed, resulting in the deaths of two people and the injury of another.
The lorry was part of a 15-vehicle convoy transporting traders and goods from Mogotio and Marigat towns to the Nginyang livestock market in Tiaty Sub-county.
The side of a lorry that was shot at in an ambush by armed criminals at Loberer, along the Marigat- Chemolingot road on April 21, 2025, leading to the killing of two people and one other nursing gunshot injuries.
Photo credit: Florah Koech| Nation Media Group
Just 15 minutes into the journey, the criminals struck at Loberer along the Marigat-Loruk road, shooting at travellers, robbing some, and then fleeing into the bushes. The incident happened at around 8:30 am, despite the convoy being escorted by police officers.
This attack came barely two weeks after three traders were shot and injured in separate incidents along the same route.
Locals say that the Loruk–Chemolingot, Loruk–Kagir, Yatya–Chemoe, and Ng’aratuko–Kagir roads are all affected by these ambushes.
Due to the wave of recent attacks on the Loruk–Chemolingot road, traders have been assembling in Marigat town, from where police escort them to the Nginyang market.
Johnstone Kiprich, a trader in the convoy, explained that most attacks are typically staged at Moinonin and Loruk shopping centers.
In this particular incident, they were ambushed by an unknown number of gunmen approximately five kilometers from Marigat.
According to the trader, the driver of one of the lorries panicked when the shooting started, abandoned the vehicle, and ran into the bushes.
A second victim, a trader in another lorry, was hit by a bullet and died while receiving treatment at Marigat Sub-County Hospital.
Joseph Ng’ang’a, the driver of another lorry, narrowly escaped the bandits’ bullets and counts himself lucky.
“I am just lucky to be alive. One of the gunmen shot at the windscreen where I was seated, but the bullet missed me because I accelerated to drive to safety. The attacker fired two more shots at the left door, killing a trader who was seated next to me,” he told Nation.Africa .
Ms Agnes Tepkeny, a trader in Marigat town, said traders are increasingly worried about the emerging trend of attacks targeting motorists and road users, especially on the Marigat–Chemolingot road.
The windscreen of a lorry that was shot at in an ambush by armed criminals at Loberer, along the Marigat- Chemolingot road on April 21, 2025, leading to the killing of two people and one other nursing gunshot injuries.
Photo credit: Florah Koech| Nation Media Group
“We fear that this is no longer ordinary banditry but a criminal network targeting traders and motorists for robbery. The government should increase patrols because this is going to cripple business in the region,” she said.
Baringo County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa confirmed the Monday incident and acknowledged the worrying trend.
“Due to recent attacks, we decided to provide police escorts for motorists and traders using the Marigat–Chemolingot road. We received reports that criminals had ambushed a convoy of traders under police escort and responded swiftly. Unfortunately, two people were killed, and one person was injured,” said Mr Kutwa.
“We fear the criminals have now turned into highway attackers, but we assure locals that we will increase patrols along the road, and all targeted vehicles will have police escort. We are still pursuing the attackers and will arraign them in court,” he said.
Baringo County Police Commander Julius Kiragu had earlier expressed concern that the criminals have shifted tactics from livestock theft to ambushing motorists along the Marigat–Chemolingot road.
“What is happening is no longer just banditry but highway robbery, mostly perpetrated by young men in insecurity-prone areas. Two weeks ago, criminals attacked a lorry transporting goods to Chemolingot in Tiaty West,” he said.
“However, we are assuring residents of their safety because we have intensified patrols along this road and other affected areas,” he added.
Residents of Kosile, Yatya, Ng’aratuko, Kagir, Chemoe, Chepkesin, and Natan villages in Baringo North say they no longer feel safe and can’t comfortably carry out daily activities due to fear of the armed criminals who roam freely, killing anyone in sight, especially road users.
Locals say the Loruk–Kagir, Yatya–Chemoe, and Ng’aratuko–Kagir roads have become impassable and turned into death traps for unsuspecting motorists, as armed attackers hide in nearby bushes, waiting to strike.
