Two people were killed and several left injured in Ukasi area, Mwingi in Kitui County yesterday night by suspected Somali bandits.

The heavily armed bandits are reported to have opened fire on residents at the Kathungu market. The attack occurred just hours after top police commanders led by regional commander Gideon Amalla visited the area and held a meeting with locals, assuring them that security had been beefed up.

The attack comes a day after a similar one left two other people dead.

During the Monday attack, the attackers torched several houses and beheaded two men. the first victim was a 75-year-old man who was sprayed with bullets in Ngooni Village as he attempted to run for safety, he was later beheaded with an axe.

Residents say that the attacks have become rampant and 28 people have been killed so far since 2016.

Six primary schools in Ukasi have remained closed since January after hundreds of families fled their homes and started living in makeshift camps at the Kathungu market.

Area MP Joe Mutambu has accused the government of negligence and asked for a quick intervention in the crisis.

Baringo Attacks

Bandit attacks have also intensified in Baringo county leaving about 2,000 people displaced.

On Sunday, pokot bandits killed a Marakwet man identified as James Cheserek and chopped off his head on Sunday in Kaptora, Marakwet East.

A Kenya Police Reservist was shot and injured by suspected Pokot bandits during an attack at Arabal in Baringo South on Tuesday morning.

“I don’t understand if Baringo is still in Kenya; the way the way our people are killed like this and yet the government seems to drag its feet in putting up measures in place to apprehend the bandits,” said Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi.