Despite an on-going high profile security operation to disarm armed civilians, at least nine people have been killed in a banditry attack in Kenya’s Rift Valley region.

According to Ceoafrica, local leaders said that the heavily armed attackers raided several villages in Baringo county, torched houses and indiscriminately shot the victims.

Hundreds of residents are fleeing the area, but many are missing and are feared dead.

On Monday, two women were shot dead in the same area of the country presided upon by Uhuru Kenyatta.

Earlier this month, Deputy President William Ruto rolled out an ambitious major security crackdown to mob up illegally-owned guns in the area.

He also issued shoot-to-kill orders against bandits.