A teacher is the latest casualty in the rising bandit attacks that have been rocking the volatile Kerio Valley region.
The teacher Simon Kirotich Cheserek popularly known as Mkomboti is said to have been killed by suspected bandits as he was on his way home from school on Tuesday.
Mkoboti is the husband of Mokoro location chief.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kichumba Murkomen while reacting to the lastest killing described the late teacher as “hardworking, committed and passionate”.
“Terrible news from Kerio Valley. Last evening bandits ambushed and killed Mwalimu Simon Kirotich Cheserek aka Mkomboti the husband of our Chief Mokoro location on his way from school,” Murkomen said in a Facebook post.
“A hardworking, committed, and passionate teacher whose only weapon was a pen was felled by an evil bullet,” he added.
The vocal Senator challenged the state to up its game and bring to an end what he termed as a needless loss of lives.
“We have consistently urged the state to help us end this menace but the security managers are consistently indifferent. We are needlessly losing so many lives. This is very frustrating and painful,” he said.
On his part, Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Wisely Rotich described the late Mkomboti as a humble man who was always passionate about peacebuilding.
“It’s unfortunate that he became a victim of the vice,” Rotich said, even as he called on locals within Tiaty, Marakwet, and Tugen to maintain peace.
The Deputy Governor who is also a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominee for the gubernatorial seat further blamed the government for failing to address the security challenge in the region.
“With the government slow or no response on this matter, we are left with no choice but to try dialogue at all levels so as we get relative peace. With the current govt attitude, the only people to bring peace is US the residents not anyone else,” he noted.
Kerio Valley has for years faced insecurity that started as an outdated cattle rustling cultural practice before it mutated into the killings of innocent and unarmed members of the public.
