Police in Bomet have launched a manhunt for a suspected Al-Shabaab militant, who vanished from his hideout in Ndanai, Sotik Sub County.
The man is believed to be on a dangerous mission in the region, with preliminary investigations linking him to the Somalia-based terror group.
Area police commander Francis Nga'ng'a said a woman who was living with the suspect was in custody and was helping police with investigations.
Police said they impounded 12 pairs of military boots, four jungle trousers, one pair of jungle socks, one jungle hut, one Kenya Air Force belt, 10 mobile phones and three knives they found in a house the two were living in.
"We have reasons to believe that the suspects were planning something bad. The items in their possession mean they were up to something," Mr Nga'ng'a said.
He identified the fleeing suspect as Wesley Kipngetich Langat and the woman in custody as Jackline Chemutai Langat. Police believe they were living as husband and wife.
“This is clearly a very dangerous person and members of the public should tread with caution and report to police any leads that will see him arrested," he added.
While cases of Al-Shabaab recruits are rare in the upcountry, police believe that he could be in the mission to plan an attack in the region and neighboring counties.
In Kenya, the terrorists group has only managed to launch successful attacks in Coast, Nairobi and Northern Frontier Districts (Garissa, Wajir and Mandera).