West Pokot residents stage protests over series of killings in the area
By Paulette Mboga, September 7, 2026West Pokot residents have taken to the streets to demand government action following a series of killings linked to banditry in the region.
Irate residents of Morita in West Pokot County staged demonstrations on Monday, September 7, 2026, after seven people were killed in banditry-related attacks in less than a week.
The protests followed a rise in banditry along the border between West Pokot and Turkana counties. Residents said security concerns in the area have been ignored as more people continue to lose their lives in the attacks.
A resident said women in the area are living in fear as they try to work and provide for their children. She said the killing of residents on the roads has left families worried about their safety.
“Sisi kama wamama tunaskia uchungu, niko na mtoto wa miezi sita, nimekuja ku hustle juu ya watoto wangu, nikiuwawa kwa barabara itakua aje? Sisi tunataka Murkomen akuje aone hiii,” the resident said.
Residents demand faster government action
Residents said seven people had been killed within a week in the banditry-related incidents. They said those killed included a child and a pregnant woman, adding that their calls for government intervention had not resulted in enough action.
Nelson Kipchumba, a resident, said locals have repeatedly sought help from the government over the security situation. He explained that they are often directed to local security offices when they try to report the attacks.
“Wiki moja, watu wetu wameuwawa watu saba. Pamoja na mtoto, mama mjamzito. Lakini kila wakati tunapoita serikali, especially tukipigia county commander anatuambia tupigie OCS,” Nelson Kipchumba said.
The residents are calling on the government to act quickly and intervene in the rising cases of banditry. They said the security situation has made it difficult for people living in the affected areas to feel safe as the attacks continue.
Some residents also linked the rising insecurity to partial disarmament in the area. They said communities had previously given up their guns as part of efforts to address insecurity but are now calling for their return.
“Kama serikali imeshindwa kutupea ulinzi, waturudishie bunduki ambazo tulipeana sisi wenyewe tujilinde,” a resident said.
The protests come as residents continue to demand a response to the killings along the West Pokot-Turkana border. They want the government to intervene and address the security concerns affecting Morita and the surrounding areas.