Tension reigns high in Laikipia County after suspected bandits killed a 64-year-old man.
The bandits who attacked Wangwaci village in Laikipia West are believed to be from Baringo County where they shot dead Charles Maina at Corner Mawea section despite the ongoing security operations.
The deceased was herding his cattle before he was shot five times in the head and three times by the assailants who made away with 30 heads of cattle.
“They first shot several times in the air to scare residents and drove away with the animals. The residents later realized the man had been shot dead,” said Githiga ward MCA Peter Thomi.
This now brings death toll to nine in the last one month.
Insecurity in Laikipia has prompted the government to take action to restore calm in the volatile area which had paralysed businesses and learning.
Last week, top security chiefs met and briefed President Uhuru Kenyatta on the progress so far made in Laikipia following a weeklong multi-agency operation.
The team under National Security Council (NSC) met the president for a briefing on the progress of the security in the area and informed him the area was now calm and safe for locals.
The government issued an ultimatum to the herders who have invaded private farms to move out of the county or face forceful evictions has since lapsed.
Ol Moran Ward MCA, George Karuiru said that it was not clear to them how the government keeps on saying that there was an ongoing operation at the conservancy yet bandits come from their hideouts and drive away their stolen livestock through the same conservancy.
Currently, there are contingent of security officers, including KDF, General Service Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit and the Kenya Forest Service wardens who are conducting an operation to flush out illegal herders.
