Fear grips village after militia attack leaves two dead

Tension is high in Narok North sub-county after two herders were shot dead by an armed militia in the controversial Maasai Mau forest on Wednesday night.

The gang is believed to be behind a similar attack last month where three cows were shot dead at Olashapani area in the same area and seven seriously injured.

County police commander Abdi Galgalo identified the deceased as Longisa Sadera, and Kenyatta Ole Kuyo who are residents of Olpusimoru village.

Speaking to the Nation in his office, he said the two were herding at Kass Fm section of the Mau forest when they were attacked by an unknown number of attackers suspected to have been armed with AK-47 rifles.

This is the area where some squatters who had illegally occupied the Olpusimoru block of Mau Forest were evicted in September after the government set up police camps in readiness for a fresh round of evictions.

Before the evictions, they had erected villages in the middle of the forest block and named them Ararwet, Kass FM, Tenkek and Kosia.

Mr Galgalo said police are yet to establish the exact time when the incident happened but confirmed that the gang also made away with nine heads of cattle.

“The two were in a makeshift structure near an area they were grazing their livestock when they were ambushed and shot severally, we are yet to establish more details of what happened,” said Mr Galagalo.

The police boss added that the two bodies were taken to Narok County referral Hospital Mortuary with bullet wounds that seem to have been shot at close range.

He said investigations are underway and the culprits will be brought to book.

The incident has raised anxiety on the Narok and Nakuru borders after the Maasai community regrouped at Olpusimoru trading centre planning to retaliate the killing of their kin.

According to area MCA Wilson Ole Masikonte the resident received the bad news with bitterness and they armed themselves.

“We are here trying to address the resident to give police a chance to carry out investigations,” he said.

However, a public baraza was convened to cool down the tension but members of other communities have fled the area fearing attacks.

Narok North Member of Parliament Moitalel Ole Kenta and his Narok South counterpart Korei Lemein condemned the killings while they called on the police to carry out speedy investigations.

Speaking on phone, the legislators said police should be held accountable for the killing of the two herders.

“The police have been dragging their feet into the investigation of the cows that were shot with bullets, there was a bullet recovered from one of the cows and the police were to conduct forensic Audit to establish the source,” said Mr Kenta.