46 killed in attack on Turkana-East Pokot border village
Elizabeth Aden, a resident of Lorogon village in Turkana County who lost one of her children in a raid by bandits, speaks to journalists.
What you need to know:
- Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Osman Warfa confirmed the 46 deaths on Monday night.
- The remoteness of the village hampered the Nation's efforts at obtaining additional information on the attack.
At least 46 people were on Monday killed and scores injured after a raid by bandits believed to be from Turkana on a village in Nadome area on the Turkana-East Pokot border.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Osman Warfa confirmed the 46 deaths on Monday night.
Mr Warfa said an unknown number of animals were stolen and added that members of the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) and Kenya Police had been dispatched to pursue the raiders.
“The attack took place in a very remote zone which is inaccessible,” Mr Warfa said, adding that the raiders escaped towards Turkana South.
The remoteness of the village hampered the Nation's efforts to obtain additional information on the attack.
FRESH ATTACKS
Earlier, additional security personnel were deployed along the Turkana East and East Pokot boundary following fresh skirmishes between Turkana and Pokot pastoralists.
Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo said armed Pokot raiders had earlier attacked a village in Baringo North and made away with over 100 goats.
“These are provocative attacks and a security team in Turkana East needs to pursue and arrest the culprits to quell the heightened tension,” said Mr Okwanyo.
Among the areas hardest hit by insecurity are Lomelo and Kapedo following the killing of three Pokot herdsmen, one of whom was hacked to death by the fleeing Turkana raiders.
PROTRACTED CONFLICT
The Pokot and Turkana have been involved in protracted armed conflict caused by cattle raids and disputes over pasture.
“Intelligence reports indicate that the raiders drove the animals towards Lomelo and Katilu in Turkana South,” Mr Okwanyo revealed regarding the Nadome raid.
At the same time, two villages along the Turkana and West Pokot border remain deserted following heightened tension caused by recurrent attacks that have claimed more than 10 lives in the past one week.
Six bandits were killed and a police officer injured on Saturday at Lorogon village in Turkana South sub-county.
The hardest hit villages include Lorogon and Nakwomoru where scores of families have been held hostage by armed bandits.
The Anti-Stock Theft Unit last Thursday managed to free 1,200 people and helped villagers access water points cordoned off by the over 200 raiders.
