Marakwet West MP Raises Alarm Over KFS Actions After Deadly Incident

Marakwet West Member of Parliament, Hon. Timothy Kipchumba Toroitich, on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Mr. Alex Lemarkoko, following reports of alleged human rights violations by officers of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in the constituency.

The meeting comes in the wake of an incident in which KFS officers are accused of using excessive force against residents of Marakwet West, leading to the death of one person and leaving another with grievous injuries. The incident has sparked outrage among locals and renewed calls for accountability and restraint in forest conservation operations.

According to the MP, the engagement with the CCF was a follow-up to a public consultative meeting held on 1st January 2026 at Cheptongei Center in Moiben/Kuserwo Ward, where residents convened to discuss the incident and agree on a set of minimum resolutions. These resolutions, he said, were formally presented to the Chief Conservator during the meeting.

Hon. Toroitich said he conveyed the community’s concerns and demanded respect for human rights, stressing that while forest protection is critical, enforcement must be carried out within the law and with due regard for the lives and dignity of residents.

“I will at all times defend the interests of the people of Marakwet West, especially when their fundamental rights are violated,” the MP said.

He added that his office will continue to engage relevant government agencies to seek justice for the affected families and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Kenya Forest Service has not yet issued a comprehensive statement on the incident or the outcome of the meeting. Meanwhile, residents have been urged to remain calm as consultations and investigations continue.