Alarm as bandits kill, injure campers

• Two others seriously injured during night raid on lodge in Maasai Mara

Unknown assailants shot dead a man and injured two others at a camp near the Mara River on Monday.

The victims were at a private party when the attack happened. The assailants took off with mobile phones, cameras and other valuables during the late evening incident.

Police have launched a manhunt for the gangsters.

The injured couple – Mr Patrick Neylan, 70, and Mrs Sarah Neylan, 50 – were flown to Nairobi Hospital for treatment.

An official at the hospital who cannot be named because he is not authorised to speak to the press said: “The couple underwent surgery after being brought here but I have no details about the extent of their injuries.”

Narok County Council senior warden in charge of Maasai Mara James ole Sindiyo and his Trans Mara counterpart Samson Lenjir said the regular police, General Service Unit (GSU), Kenya Wildlife Service wardens and those from the county councils were involved in the crackdown.

They were combing the area with the help of two light planes and sniffer dogs.

“The first response to the distress call was from the GSU camp at the Olooloolo gate and eventually we were able to mobilise support from all over,” said Mr Sindiyo.

The chief executive officer of the Mara Conservancy, Mr Brian Heath, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, said more than 100 officers were involved in the operation and he was optimistic the offenders would be brought to book.

Additional reporting by Julius Sigei

EDITOR'S NOTE:

In an earlier version of this story, we had erroneously reported that incident happened at a tourist lodge.

It has now been established that the victim was a Kenyan resident in a party of local campers out celebrating a birthday. The incident occurred at a camp-site and not a tourist lodge as reported. The assailants made off with property, including mobile phones, cameras and electronic items. Rangers from the Mara Conservancy backed up by  GSU, Kenya Wildlife Service rangers and the Police responded swiftly and are still combing the area for the attackers.