Deteriorating security in the deadly Kerio Valley has been turned into a political battleground for Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Deputy President William Ruto.
This is even as the government started vetting freshly National Police Reservists.
Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who also doubles as Senate Majority Leader, now accuses Senator Moi of sympathising with people believed to be fueling insecurity in the region.
In a tweet, Murkomen accused Tiaty MP William Kamket, of directly being responsible for banditry and violence in the region. Kamket is a close ally of Moi and was elected on a KANU ticket.
"It is incongruous for @MoiGideon to support Kamket who is leading a militia to kill his people. Without the NPRs residents of Baringo South and North would have been wiped out. Without NPRs women&Children In Kerio will not be safe. KANU wants to return Kerio Valley to a Valley of death," he claimed.
The government of Kenya has been using reservists to beef up security in the region. In 2011, newly trained GSU officers were killed in Suguta Valley, not far from Kapedo where another batch of officers were killed by armed bandits.
Earlier, Kamket, who has been accusing National Police Reservists of contributing to insecurity, claimed that the former officers were being recruited by Dr William Ruto as his militants ahead of 2022.
"Congratulations to IG Hillary Mutyambai for disarming all NPRs in the Rift Valley. The NPRs has been recruited as a William Ruto militiamen to fight for him in 2022. Kweli Mungu halali," he wrote.
Murkomen said the region is slowly turning into a valley of death, despite efforts by security officers to contain bandits. Last week, he said at least two people were killed.
"I am saddened that the security situation in Marakwet ain’t improving. This week two innocent young men were again killed in Endo Ward. We have had discussions with CS Matiangi & IG Mutyambai & they have promised to scale up operations this week," said Murkomen.