Nairobi — Last Thursday, he posthumously graduated with a Bachelors degree from Kampala International University in Uganda.

This is Emmanuel Kipkeino, an education official killed a fortnight ago by bandits and buried last week in Marakwet East.

A somber mood and a heavy security presence engulfed the home of the slain education officer as mourners gathered to pay their last respects.

On October 30, women and children wailed uncontrollably as the mahogany coffin bearing the remains of Mr Kipkeino was lowered to the grave for a final rest. Meanwhile, a hawk-eyed contingent of security personnel threw a ring around Kasui Village, Kibaimwa location.

Academic success

Placed under mango trees, the coffin bearing his remains was covered with a graduation gown. His family and friends are yet to come to terms with the tragic events of Kenyatta Day that robbed them of a cheerful, enthusiastic and rising man.

The bandits, who police are hunting down, had threatened to attack anybody who travelled along their death-trap: a section of the Tot-Chesongoch-Arrror road at Chesuman Primary School.

The gang shot and stood guard as Mr Kipkeino bled to death on the evening of Wednesday. The provincial administration did not take chances and deployed a strong security team during the funeral to ensure it was conducted uninterrupted.

Mr Kipkeino, 46, a Teachers Advisory Centre Tutor and the acting Area Educational Officer in charge of Tunyo division was on his way to Arror examination distribution centre from Chesongoch when he was attacked.

He was distributing papers and other materials for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination which were to kick off the following morning.

His bullet-riddled body was found lying beside the GK motor cycle he was riding. Although he had Sh15,000 cash and two mobile phones with him, none was taken away, fuelling speculations that it was a well executed assassination.

To be paid

Police in Marakwet West District are investigating claims that six armed bandits were paid Sh4,000 to eliminate the education official. Following the murder, it emerged that Sh1,000 had been advanced to one of the suspects prior to the 'job' and the balance was to be paid after the mission.

To date, ten suspects, including a primary school head teacher from Tunyo division in Kerio Valley and four teachers, are being held at the Kapsowar and Chebiemit police stations.

But as the police carry on with their investigations, tension remains high in the area as youths from the slain officer's village vow to avenge his death. During the burial, illegal guns were singled out as the biggest threat to the society.

"This incident has demonstrated that none of us is safe. Everybody is scared of coming home and we are paralysing any development activities in our community," said Mr Joseph Maiyo, chairman of the Mon-Kibaimwa professionals.

While condemning the killing, Mr Maiyo called on elders to stamp their authority in ridding the area of lawless youths out to destabilise the whole Kerio Valley region. He, however, cautioned that the problem needed to be resolved in totality by educating the youth on alternative sources of livelihood to dissuade them from banditry activities.

But this may be a hard task considering the deeply ingrained gun-culture in the region that has just emerged from a decade of cattle rustling between the Marakwet and Pokot communities.

So lowly is life regarded in this region that the hired goons shot their victim and stood guard until he bled to death, his cries for mercy and help, falling on deaf ears.

Guns abound and unemployed, but disgruntled, youth have turned into highway criminals. A spate of robberies has rocked the two Marawket districts as gangs target travellers, mango traders, businesses, schools and even churches. Being the season for mango harvesting, traders have turned into moving in convoys and only during the day to avoid attacks.

"Our tradition had rules on when to take out certain weapons. What has happened today that the youth have become thugs instead of community's defenders?" asked Mr John Marirmoi.

The former Marakwet East Member of Parliament cautioned those engaged in criminal activities that their days were numbered and asked elders to summon their traditional knowledge and practices in exposing those spreading terror.

Embrace peace

"We have embraced peace with our neighbours (Pokots) and we should not turn into our own enemies," he said.

Marakwet West district education officer, Christopher Chebiegon, while dismissing fears that teachers had been intimidated from carrying out their duties, insisted that the motivation for the killing of his junior should be uncovered by the police.

Mr Chebiegon added that insecurity has affected everybody in the region, including security officers.

His stand contradicted that of the Kenya National Union of Teachers' Marakwet branch secretary, Julius Chemweno, who said a huge number of teachers are worried of their safety and are now seeking transfers with some of them deserting duties after failing to secure transfers.

Area councillor, Sylvester Kaptuya, said a community policing programme would be rolled out to stem the wave of robberies on major roads and trading centres.