More guns recovered in mop-up
Pallbearers carry the body of Administration Police Constable Ezekiel Chege during the burial at his home in Losogwa near Nyahururu Town on November 6, 2014. Chege was among the 19 officers killed by bandits in an ambush at Kapedo.
What you need to know:
- The soldiers swung into action following the killing of 19 APs and three civilians in a banditry attack in the volatile Kapedo area.
- There are reports that Kapedo residents also face starvation.
The military drive in Turkana and Baringo counties has recovered nine more firearms, some which were stolen from 19 slain officers last weekend.
This brings to 16 the number of guns so far recovered since the Kenya Defence Forces took over disarmament on Wednesday.
The soldiers swung into action following the killing of 19 APs and three civilians in a banditry attack in the volatile Kapedo area.
There are reports that Kapedo residents also face starvation.
Area chief Josephat Lopalal said following insecurity in the area and the subsequent deployment of the military, the 308-kilometre Kapedo-Lodwar road has been rendered impassable, which has made food supply impossible.
BANDIT ATTACK
Last Saturday, bandits attacked and killed the 22 at Nadan, Silale, Kabau and Nadome and took their guns.
During his visit after the attack, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered locals to surrender the officers’ guns, plus all illegal firearms in their possession.
Herders are said to be dropping the firearms at strategic points after which they alert elders who surrender them at the Mondi Division District Officer’s office.
The arms are then taken to the Tiaty Sub-County headquarters at Chemolingot where the military have set up their base.
Armoured personnel carriers and lorries full of soldiers were on Thursday seen heading to the border between Baringo and Turkana counties.
And for the third day, military helicopters hovered over the expansive Silale Hills in Kapedo, where the armed bandits are believed to be hiding.
Unconfirmed reports on Thursday indicated that the soldiers had killed up to 10 suspected bandits, up from five on Wednesday, as they mount both air and land raids to flush out bandits.
Pokot and Turkana elders said the conflicts started way back in 1967 and they are now demanding a permanent solution.
The conflicts are attributed to a border dispute as each side fights for resources.
Each of the warring communities is claiming ownership of Silale area.
