The insecurity crisis in Kerio Valley deepened on Thursday afternoon after suspected bandits ambushed and killed a former National Police Reservist (NPR), Abraham Kitum, in Chebasiak, Kaben location.
Kitum, who retired as a police reservist in 2016, was herding his livestock when he was shot dead.
His nephew, Bismarck Ruto, said the assailants, believed to be from a neighboring county, hid in a nearby thicket before ambushing him.
“They shot him twice in the chest and stole four cattle, including two bulls and two cows,” Ruto said.
His murder marks the fifth killing in the region since Monday, following the deaths of two schoolboys, their uncle, and another individual in separate attacks in Endo.
The latest bloodshed has heightened fears among residents, who are calling on security forces to act decisively against the escalating banditry.
Kitum, widely respected for his role as a peace ambassador after retiring from NPR service, had been at the forefront of promoting reconciliation in the troubled region. His brutal killing has left the community in shock.
Earlier on Thursday, four stolen goats from Cheptulel in neighboring West Pokot had been recovered in Endo and returned to their owners. Hours later, Kitum was gunned down, further fueling tensions.
A multi-agency security team, including the military, Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), and regular police, has launched an operation to track down the attackers. Chiefs from neighboring counties have also been questioned as part of the ongoing investigations.
