Two shot dead as police block raid

Police shot dead two men who tried to raid a power station in Mandera Town on Thursday night.

Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo said security officers recovered an AK47 rifle, 145 rounds of ammunition, five magazines and several improvised explosive.

Other attackers are said to have escaped with gunshot wounds. On Friday, detectives were examining the explosives as investigation began.

The men were part of a gang that had planned to damage the station that lights up the town using special generators.

Mr Kimaiyo added that security had been boosted in the region. “Our officers are alert and we have beefed up security in the area and other places in the wake of these attacks,” he said.

A simultaneous and similar raid happened in Wajir, where an armed gang attacked the Kenya Power supply branch, targeting a huge fuel reservoir.

The gang shot at the equipment several times, leading to massive leakage.

The attackers also hurled an explosive at the compound of Wajir South Development Agency, a non-governmental organisation, and repeatedly shot at the building. A watchman was injured.

Wajir County Police Commandant David Kirui said they were following leads that could help them arrest the gang members.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who addressed media on behalf of county officials, said the simultaneous raids could not be ordinary crime and urged the police to step up security.

In Eldoret, a man was arrested at Cheptiret on Thursday with a Kenyan identification card. He could not speak any Kenyan language.