Police moved as raiders kill man

More than 200 police officers have been transferred from Bungoma and Busia counties as additional troops were sent to contain rising insecurity.

Sunday’s rallies by Cord have also been cancelled following a meeting between police and party politicians.

On Thursday, Inspector General David Kimaiyo said both officers from the Kenya Police and the Administration Police services, especially those who had stayed in Bungoma and Busia counties for more than two years, had been transferred with immediate effect. The transfers, expected to be done in the entire Western Province in general, affect even the OCPDs.

General Service Unit

Mr Kimaiyo said about 400 additional police officers from the General Service Unit and Rapid Response Unit from the Administration Police as well as vehicles had been sent to reinforce troops on the ground.

On Thursday, Mr Kimaiyo met leaders from the Bungoma and Busia counties and discussed at length the rising insecurity in the region.

Police imposed a curfew on all boda boda operators who are now expected to operate between 6am and 6pm.

Officers involved in the operation have also been directed not to harass residents. Instead, officers are engaging the public in barazas aimed at ensuring that the public open up and provide critical information.

Police have offered a reward of Sh100,000 to anyone who will provide them with information that may lead to the arrest of criminals.

“Information so provided will be treated in strict confidence. I also want to thank the 20 members of public who have recorded statements and wish to urge more to come forward and do the same,” Kimaiyo said.

The area has been hit by a wave of deadly attacks for the last two weeks. On April 25 and 26, unknown assailants invaded Kikwechi and Mukwa villages in Bungoma, killing nine people and injuring 58.

On Thursday, another trader in the town was killed and his wife seriously injured in a fresh wave of violence.

The latest attack, just days after two others, sparked violent protests that saw police engage hundreds of residents in running battles.

Excessive bleeding

The trader identified as Timothy Nyongesa died on arrival at Bungoma District Hospital following excessive bleeding from panga cuts.

The killing of the trader happened in Mashambani estate, less that a kilometre from Bungoma Police Station in the heart of Bungoma Town.

What has left baffled many residents is that a group of 10 men armed with pangas can walk to the estate at 8.30pm unnoticed.

Residents wondered how the group could attack residents in town when police claimed they have intensified patrols and launched a special operation to flush out criminals.

“Where were the officers on patrol and why couldn’t they apprehend the attackers?” a County representative, Mr Majimbo Okumu, asked.

Mr Nyongesa’s son, John, said: “It was still very early. My father had just returned home from Kisumu. It’s like he was being trailed. Most people in the estate were not asleep. They simply ordered everyone to stay in their houses, threatening to kill anyone who came out as they slashed my parents with a panga,” he said.

He said residents locked themselves in their houses for fear of being attacked.

“Those who tried to come out to help us retreated when they saw my father in a pool of blood,” Mr. Nyongesa said.

The attackers simply wanted to kill his father and did not seem to want to steal anything from the family, he said.

“It was my mother who gave the attackers the money as she pleaded with them to spare her life and my father’s,” he said.