Two gunned down as livestock thieves drive away 80 goats

Two people, including a Kenya Police reservist, were killed and three others seriously injured in separate cattle raids in the North Rift.

The police reservist was shot dead by raiders at a village in Kapedo, Turkana East, on Tuesday. They escaped with more than 80 goats and a gun belonging to the reservist.

“The attackers ambushed the KPR before shooting him dead and escaping with the gun and the animals,” Turkana East district commissioner Daniel Obolla said.

In a separate attack, a herdsman was shot dead and another sustained serious injuries when raiders attacked Lopei on the border of Pokot North and Loima districts.

Another herdsman is missing following the Tuesday night attack that has sparked tension between the Pokot and the Turkana.

“Security personnel including GSU, regular police, Administration Police and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit have been deployed to the area to forestall any retaliatory attacks,” Loima DC Moses Ivuto said.

At the same time, a man was shot following a clash between the Turkana and the Pokot at Lorokon over a border that separates Pokot Central and Turkana South districts.

Another man escaped with bullet wounds in the Tuesday confrontation.

“It is unfortunate that the boundary issue has turned bloody despite numerous efforts to resolve the matter diplomatically,” Turkana South DC Joseph Kanyiri said.

Both communities claim ownership of land along River Kerio which has plenty of pasture and water for livestock and rich soils for agriculture.

In a related development, more members of the Nyong’atom community from South Sudan and Ethiopia invaded the disputed Elemi Triangle, sparking fears of armed conflict with the Turkana.

Hundreds of the pastoralists have encroached on Soya village — 60 kilometres inside Kenya in search of pasture.

The government plans to recruit 150 Kenya Police reservists and equip them with modern weapons to stop external aggression on the Turkana.

Turkana North DC Albert Mwilitsa said civic and religious leaders have been given two weeks to come up with a list of candidates.