Two individuals, including an armed assailant, were killed and a police officer sustained serious injuries during a violent confrontation between security forces and bandits in Kosile, Baringo North sub-county.
Armed raiders targeted multiple villages—Kosile, Ng’aratuko, Kagir Kipchemon, and Kiptoris—driving away an unspecified number of livestock before fleeing toward Chemachekwa, a border area between Baringo North and Tiaty West sub-counties.
Residents in border communities have evacuated homes, fearing further attacks as bandits remain at large in nearby bushlands. The incident raises concerns over escalating violence, with the death toll from criminal activities in Baringo County reaching 36 since January.
Baringo North Police Commander Fredrick Odinga confirmed the attack occurred after suspected Tiaty East bandits struck villages, killing a local and stealing livestock. During the ensuing shootout, one attacker was killed, and the police officer was hospitalized in Nakuru.
"We are actively pursuing the perpetrators to recover stolen animals," Odinga said, urging residents to avoid vigilante actions. The attack follows a similar incident two weeks prior, when two people were killed and another injured in Tiaty sub-county.
Residents allege the government has failed to address the crisis, with bandits occupying abandoned homes and planning new raids. Since December, displaced criminals from Laikipia have intensified attacks, forcing school closures and disrupting livelihoods.
Local resident Reuben Chesang criticized authorities for broken promises, stating: "The government claims to target bandits, but our lives are being destroyed. Children are traumatized, and schools remain closed." He cited over 15 deaths in Baringo villages this year, with many injured and communities in disarray.
