Four suspected bandits shot dead
What you need to know:
- The four are said to have tried to ambush a convoy of Anti-Stock Theft Unit, AP and GSU officers who were patrolling the area near Kasarani, where 19 policemen and three civilians were killed following an attack in November last year.
- The former soldier, who was driving from his home in Mochongoi, is said to have been suspected to have been masterminding the perennial cattle rustling menace in Baringo County.
- This did not go down well with the Pokot, who have threatened to avenge the killings, sparking a mass exodus in Baringo South and Baringo North sub-counties.
Police on Tuesday shot dead four suspected bandits at Lomelo area in Kapedo, at the border of Baringo and Turkana counties.
The four are said to have tried to ambush a convoy of Anti-Stock Theft Unit, AP and GSU officers who were patrolling the area near Kasarani, where 19 policemen and three civilians were killed following an attack in November last year.
Contacted, Baringo County AP Commander Elisha Odhiambo said two illegal firearms were found during the 4pm incident.
“What I can confirm for sure is that some bandits who had tried to lay an ambush on security personnel were shot dead,” Mr Odhiambo told the Nation on phone.
This came as tension mounted at the cattle rustling-prone Arabal area of Baringo South following another attack in which a school security guard was killed and reportedly skinned by raiders last night.
The attack has sparked fear in the area with residents reportedly fleeing.
The current conflict between the Tugen and Pokot communities is believed to have been sparked off by the killing of a retired soldier.
Mr Peter Kokon, who was in the company of his son, was waylaid by armed bandits who shot them before setting his vehicle ablaze. The boy escaped.
The former soldier, who was driving from his home in Mochongoi, is said to have been suspected to have been masterminding the perennial cattle rustling menace in Baringo County.
This did not go down well with the Pokot, who have threatened to avenge the killings, sparking a mass exodus in Baringo South and Baringo North sub-counties.
More than 4,000 people have fled their homes fearing attacks.
There are also fears the insecurity might affect learning in some schools.
Some of the affected schools in Baringo North are Chepkewel, Kalabata, Yatia, Sibilo, Kapturo, Chemindany, Tilingwo, Kagir, Ng’aratuko, Kosile,Rormoch, Chepkesin, Kamwetio, Chepkew, Barketiew and Moinonin.
In Baringo South, the affected schools are Arabal, Ruggus, Mukutani, Kashiela, Chebinyiny, Chemorokyon, Ng’elecha and Kapindasum.
It also emerged that some schools will require reconstruction after the bandits vandalised and stole some equipment, including iron sheets and solar panels.
