Nine more bodies have been found, raising the death toll in banditry attacks in Turkana South and East Baringo districts to 74.

At least 63 bodies were recovered at the weekend following last week’s attacks in three villages in Lokori Division in Turkana South District by more than 500 cattle rustlers suspected to be from Baringo East District.

The Kenya Red Cross Society toured Lokui, Naipeton and Lokubae villages on Sunday and donated medicine, food and other essential items to the more than 127 affected families.

On Monday, Rift Valley provincial commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan flew to Naipeton to assess the situation.

Provincial police officer Joseph Ashimalla is leading a combined force of security personnel in an operation to recover the more than 2,200 cattle stolen in the raid.

Mr Noor said that seven of the 15 people who sustained injuries have been discharged from Lodwar District Hospital where others are being treated.

He said the rough terrain was making it difficult for the security team to pursue the raiders who have escaped towards Suguta Valley in Baringo East.

Mr Ashimalla, accompanied by Turkana South MP Josephat Nanok Koli, visited some of the injured at Lokori health centre.

Some of the residents interviewed blamed the Government for failing to improve security in the area despite numerous attacks in the past.

Last year, raiders attacked Lokori Division and killed three police officers.

At the weekend, at least 11 people were killed after two groups clashed over pasture.

Driven away

According to East Pokot district commissioner Muthuku Mwenga, more than 150 animals were driven away during the clash at Kulal village on the border of the two districts.

Baringo East MP Asman Kamama on Monday demanded that the Government investigate fully the cause of the Kulal attack.

“We want to know the genesis of the attacks since it is suspected it was a revenge mission,” Mr Kamama said, adding that leaders should not politicise the matter.