Tension has gripped residents of Liter village along the volatile Elgeyo Marakwet and Pokot border following the arrival of trucks full of General Service Unit (GSU) officers on Thursday.

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Reports indicate the officers were rallied following the killing of one of their colleague by suspected Pokot bandits.

Confirming the arrival of the security officers to the Standard, Marakwet East sub-county police boss Mr Vincent Kitili said security has been heightened in the area.

“The GSU, Anti-Stock Theft Unit and Administration Police officers are already patrolling the area to restore calm,” Kitili was quoted by the Standard.

The police boss further said his officers were following crucial leads that could lead to the arrest of masterminds behind the killing of the GSU officer attached to Tot camp.

Amid the growing tension, villagers have reportedly started fleeing their homes in fear that youths from the rival communities along the volatile border could be regrouping for more retaliatory attacks.

On Wednesday, local leaders led by the Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos went to the area where they appealed to the locals to desist from retaliating as security organs were already handling the issue. 

Tolgos, however, called on Interior CS Fred Matiang'i to immediately step in and put the deadly banditry attacks to a decisive end.