The government has deployed security personnel in all schools and health facilities in Kerio Valley sub-county to ensure that there is no disruption in the delivery of services.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Dr John Korir has also warned that the government will take stern action against anyone threatening non-locals from going about their activities in the Kerio Valley.
Speaking during celebrations to mark this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations at Kessup Primary School in Keiyo North sub-county, the CC said all Kenyans were free to work in any part of the country as long as they were not breaking any law.
“Let no one think that they can order non-locals working in the Kerio Valley to leave,” the CC warned.
He called on Kenyans to learn to embrace one another, saying each benefits from the other, saying no one community can realise development alone without working with others.
“Kerio Valley produces a lot of fruits, especially mangoes. We require traders from other parts of the country to buy them and they also bring us other things which are not available in the area,” he said.
The CC regretted that while the area is quite productive agriculturally, it is yet to realise its potential due to intermittent insecurity.
He thanked leaders in the county for speaking in one voice and working with the government in its efforts to end insecurity in the Kerio Valley.
Addressing the same function, the county police commander said the government had put in place measures to ensure that they end the insecurity menace but said it requires the assistance of the residents to succeed.
“The issue of insecurity cannot be left to the security personnel alone. We need the residents to cooperate with us by volunteering information,” he said.
A youth leader, Bethwel Ngetich, called on the government to do all it can to end the insecurity in the valley, saying they were tired of being branded as bandits by other Kenyans.
The area was in the news again following the killing of Fr Allois Bett, who was shot dead by bandits. A requiem mass for the priest will be held tomorrow at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Eldoret ahead of his burial on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in his home parish, Olessos, in the Nandi pastoral region.
By Alice Wanjiru
