The fresh vetting of police reservists is among several measures announced by government to tackle banditry in the restive North Rift.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said apart from vetting, authorities will review the remuneration of the national police reservists (NPRs) and resolve the long standing boundary disputes.
Bandits have also changed tack and are behind a spate of highway robberies that have seen three killed within a week, he added.
Mr Murkomen, who led senior security officials in a peace meeting at Chesongoch in Kerio Valley, blamed the deaths on retaliatory attacks by warring pastoralist communities in the region.
The security meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, his deputy Eliud Lagat, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Hassan Abdi and security teams from Baringo, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties.
Mr Murkomen directed all the reservists will operate under the command of officer commanding stations (OCS) under their areas of jurisdiction and that NPR camps will be established to complement police efforts in the fight against crime.
“We want to have disciplined NPR’s who will be remunerated and registered with SHA to assist police in cracking down on criminals and fight long lasting peace in the troubled Kerio Valley,” said Murkomen.
He disclosed that the re-vetted NPRs will undergo training and those found to collaborate with criminals will be sacked and made to face the law.
“We are going to deal firmly with NPR who lease their firearms to criminals or collaborate with them in banditry activities,” he said.
The CS said bandits were now turning to highway robberies citing the incident Moinonin in Baringo North where one person was shot dead while four others sustained injuries during the attack along Marigat-Loruk road
The Monday 8am incident happened when armed criminals attacked a convoy at Sibilo Lions junction, which was being escorted by security officers attached to the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) while heading to Chemolingot in Tiaty to Marigat town in the neighbouring Baringo South Sub-County.
According to Baringo North Sub-County Police Commander Mohammed Abdi, the criminals fired several rounds on the convoy, killing a 22-year-old woman who was seated on the left front passenger seat.
“Armed criminals suspected to be from the Tugen community attacked a convoy at Sibilo Lions junction that was being escorted by security officers from the RDU, who were heading from Chemolingot to Marigat town. The attackers fired several rounds on the convoy whereby one unidentified woman was fatally shot on the left side of the rib,” said Mr Abdi.
“Four others, including two minors, a primary school girl and a secondary school student sustained injuries and have been taken to the Baringo County Referral hospital in Kabarnet for treatment,” he added.
Among those injured are Dalmas Cherum, a driver who was shot on the left hand and elbow, Caleb Achio, 17, a form four student who was injured on the right rib.
Others are Nicholas Kipchumba, 35, a lorry driver who was injured on the left ankle and a 13-year primary school girl who was injured on the right foot.
“The injured persons are undergoing treatment at the Baringo County Referral hospital in Kabarnet and the deceased body has also been taken to the facility’s morgue. Multi-agency security teams are pursuing the culprits,” said the Sub-County police boss.
The attack brings to 13 the number of people shot dead by bandits in Kerio Valley since the beginning of the year.
The previous week two people, a lorry driver and a trader, were shot dead during an ambush at Loberer along the Marigat- Loruk road.
More than 15 lorries which were ferrying traders from Marigat and Mogotio towns to Tiaty were ambushed by armed criminals who shot at them indiscriminately before robbing some of them and fleeing into the bush.
The incident happened at 8:30 am when the traders were in an escort of police officers... due to a recent wave of incessant attacks, the county’s security team had arrived at a decision to be providing security to motorists plying the porous Marigat-Chemolingot road for their safety.
The CS also said land is emerging as a main source of conflict and warned of stern measures on individuals who incited and killed four surveyors and Angata Baragoi in Narok County.
“Calm has been restored in Narok but we are going to take firm legal action against the inciters who attacked and killed the government officials,” said Murkomen.
