Tension runs high as gunmen raid cattle market in Laikipia

Tension is high in Ol Moran, Laikipia West, after armed raiders attacked a local market in the area.

The attackers hit the livestock market on Tuesday afternoon, forcing traders at the shopping centre to hurriedly close down their businesses.

STORM

A police vehicle was also damaged during a confrontation between police and the attackers, suspected to be from the Pokot community.

According to Beatrice Njeri, a businesswoman at the market, the attackers stormed the market and started inspecting livestock, claiming that they were looking for animals they lost to thieves the night before.

“They stormed the market in a group of about 10 men and started terrorising everyone, claiming that they were looking for their stolen animals. They identified some animals and even attempted to drive them away,” said the trader.

“When some traders, whose animals were identified as stolen protested, the armed men brandished their weapons, forcing everyone to flee,” the trader said.

SHOOTING

Police officers at the nearby Ol Moran Police Station intervened after being alerted by the traders.

However, when the armed men spotted the police vehicle, they started shooting indiscriminately.

“Those who were not armed also started pelting stones at our vehicle, forcing us to engage them,” said a police officer, who sought anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

“It took us about 20 minutes to [get the situation under control] and they later fled towards a nearby valley after we overwhelmed them.”

He said the officers were still pursuing the attackers.

LODGE RAZED

No officer or resident was injured in the shootout, according to the officer.

Last week, attackers also suspected to be from the Pokot community burnt down a lodge at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

The bandits accused security officers carrying out a security operation in the area of shooting, killing and confiscating their animals on Wednesday night.

They burnt down the Mukutan Retreat located on the Laikipia-Baringo border.

The conservancy is owned by Kuki Gallman, a renowned conservationist and author.

MCA CASE

It is the largest conservancy in the county, sitting on 100,000 acres.

An influential Baringo County MCA was on Monday charged in a Nyahururu court in connection with the incident.

Churo-Amaiya Ward Representative Thomas Minito denied arson and incitement charges before Resident Magistrate Victoria Ochanda.

The magistrate ordered that the accused be locked up at the Nyahururu Police Station until Wednesday, when the court will give further directions.