Tension Over Recent Bandit Attacks In Laikipia, Gov’t Urged To Deploy More Officers

LAIKIPIA,Kenya, Dec, 17 – Tension is high in parts of Laikipia county following recent cases of bandit attacks in areas surrounding the Laikipia nature conservancy.

According to residents, Matuiku, Rùbere and village eighteen are among areas affected.

Bandits are this past Tuesday said to have descended on the villages from the Laikipia Nature Conservancy storming granaries while stealing grains among other foodstuff.

Hundreds of residents are said to have fled their homes seeking refuge at Lobere primary school.

Residents who sought anonymity said that he bandits were even brandishing their weapons during the day as they unleashed terror.

Area leaders and residents are now calling on the government to increase the number of national police reservist in the area in a bid to fully restore normalcy.

By Thursday, a number of residents had sought refuge at Rubere AIC Church.

Laikipia Senator John Kinyua expressed concerns over the rampant attacks despite a security operation in the rea.

“Bandits are stealing livestock and we have lost a lot of people, more must be done to protect life,” he said.

The county’s security apparatus however say that the government is working tirelessly to curtail activities of the bandits and restore normalcy.