Several families have fled Luthaaya village in Mutuati sub county, Meru following an attack that left three people dead on Monday night.
There is tension in the region after the raiders struck again on Tuesday night killing a fourth person and injuring another at Lororo in the same sub county.
The injured person is receiving treatment at Nyambene Level Five Hospital.
Armed raiders have, in the last two months, heightened attacks in Meru North leaving more than 10 people dead.
In the Monday night incident, about 10 armed bandits shot indiscriminately at farmers who were preparing their harvest and killed one woman and two men.
Nicholas Mugambi, who is mourning the loss of his wife Florence Mukiria, his brother Stanley Ngarara and a friend Stanley Kalung’e, said the raiders started shooting from a distance after spotting them going about their business.
“My wife was shot from the back as we fled while the two others were shot in the chest. She died while we were rushing her to hospital on a boda boda. Many others spent the night in the bush,” Mugambi lamented.
He said the body of his brother and the other victim of the attack were found the next day, a distance from after they were kidnapped by the attackers and shot at close range.
“It is unfortunate that the attack happened about one kilometre away from a GSU camp. When the OCS was called to send police officers to rescue us, he said they did not have a vehicle. We were left to our own devices,” he said.
The attacks come after more than 10 people were killed last month drawing the attention of police IG Josphat Koome who vowed to deploy more machinery to weed out bandits from Meru North.
In May, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki visited the area and ordered the deployment of more police officers to flush out the bandits.
Mr John Ntongai, a resident, said the raiders have now turned their guns on farmers after herders relocated from the bandit prone area.
“We are tired of empty words from the government and now demand action be taken. Despite the heavy presence of police, our people have continued to die and lose their property. CS Kindiki should now start walking his talk,” Ntongai said.
Recently, Njuri Ncheke elders faulted the government for failure to tame banditry in Meru north where killers remain at large.
The elders blamed the situation on failure by the government to provide sufficient police officers and vehicles in the banditry prone parts of Meru.
“We are saddened that the government has not found it fit to deploy enough police officers in the Meru North where bandits keep attacking and stealing. The police-posts in the area have about three officers and the police commander does not have vehicles. How do they expect a few police officers to face off with more than 50 bandits?” Mr Kathera posed.
The government is also yet to deploy 200 police reservists in the region bordering Isiolo county, as promised.
