One person was shot and seriously wounded after suspected Pokot bandits raided Kerio Valley barely three days after schools in the area re-opened.
Marakwet East deputy county commissioner Stephen Sangolo assured on Tuesday that security will be tightened to prevent attacks in the troubled area.
But the armed bandits mounted an attack on Wednesday afternoon, injuring one herder in Ketut location.
Lika Biwott, 40, was shot in the right leg during the ambush.
Area police boss Lemmy Njiru said on Thursday that the bandits left without stealing livestock after a fierce gun battle with herders and police reservists patrolling the area.
“Our security operations teams in Murkutwo, anti –stock theft unit in Chesongoch and police reservists are currently patrolling the area,” Njiru said.
The police boss said Biwott was rushed to Chesongoch mission hospital in the Kerio Valley and referred to Kapsowar Mission Hospital, Marakwet West on Wednesday evening.
He said the attack did not affect learning in schools as it happened in grazing fields near the Elgeyo Marakwet-Baringo border, away from the institutions.
The raid happened ahead of peace meetings aimed at restoring cohesion among warring communities on the West Pokot-Elgeyo Marakwet border.
Kapyego MCA-elect Evans Limo said the meetings will take place from next Tuesday.
Limo said ward representatives from the two counties plan to bring together Pokot and Marakwet elders to find ways of ending cross border attacks and cattle theft.
“We will set up a kitty to enable elders spearhead peace initiatives in our areas,” Limo said.
He said stolen animals will be returned to their owners during the series of peace meetings.
At least 100 police officers and police reservists were deployed to man moe than 50 schools in Kerio Valley as learners begin preparations for KCPE and KCSE which will begin in October.
