By Talarus Chesang
A two-year old boy whose parents were attacked and killed by armed bandits is still nursing bullet injuries at Baringo County referral hospital.
The victim Musto Lotada survived after his mother Chemket Loriwo and father Lotada Loyara were shot dead by suspected armed Turkana bandits at Kapau village, Tiaty on June 30.
“They were asleep when the bandits stormed in and brutally killed them in the dawn attack” Tirioko ward MCA Sam Lokales said.
The fatal incident occurred amid ongoing banditry attacks along the deadly Kerio and Suguta valley within the North Rift region.
Lokales said the innocent kid who has been in hospital for close to two months now has no one to take care of him.
He called upon the government and well-wishers to support the orphan since his medical bill was also shooting up daily.
He also called upon the security agencies to act swiftly and hunt down and arrest the armed bandits.
His sentiments were echoed by his Ripko-Kossitei counterpart Daniel Tuwit who said the people were also fighting hunger.
Baringo County referral hospital medical superintendent Charles Maswai said the child’s health is in stable condition after they removed the bullets lodged in his hand and leg.
He added that the hospital is also handling five more gunshot patients as a result of the ongoing banditry attacks along the volatile Kerio valley.
It is alleged that after attacking the young boy’s family, the armed bandits fled towards Lomelo village in the neighboring Turkana East without driving away any livestock.
Banditry has become rampant along the porous borders of Baringo, Elgeyo-Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana and Laikipia counties since January this year.
Last week ,a group of heavily armed bandits besieged a General Service Unit (GSU) camp at Kasiela in Baringo South, killed one herder Kamau Mkono and drove away 38 head of cattle towards Chepkalacha in Tiaty Sub-county.
“This was an unusual raid because the bandits seem to be heavily armed with very sophisticated weapons. They pinned down our officers” Marigat OCPD Bonjlive Munuve said.
These killings happen despite the ongoing government disarmament operation aimed at pursuing and flashing out the notorious bandits.
Last month, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi visited Kerio valley, Elgeyo-Marakwet, West Pokot and Tiaty border to preach peace.
After he left, a massive attack occurred which saw over 10 people from either sides of the warring pastoral communities brutally killed.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya maintained that insecurity in North Rift will soon come to an end.
“Those prophets of doom saying banditry will last should be made aware that our people will soon live peacefully” he said.
Baringo North resident Richard Chepchomei accused the government of withdrawing the National Police Service (NPS) who repulsed the bandits and protected people’s property.
