Nine killed in attack at Turkana village

Nine people were killed yesterday after suspected raiders attacked a village in Turkana South in what police said was a revenge attack.

Two people were critically injured in the attacks and are receiving treatment at the local dispensary.

The police said plans were being made to transfer them to Lodwar Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.

Area police boss John Bosco Muutu said the attackers, who came from Pokot North district in West Pokot County, raided Kaptir village in Turkana South district at around 5am killing six Turkana villagers in a shootout that also left three Pokot raiders dead.

He said the village was attacked by between 30 and 400 men.

Turkana South DC Elijah Kodo said the dead included two children, two women and men from Turkana.

The attackers made away with a total of 2,500 animals including cattle, goats, sheep and camels.

The police boss, who is leading a team of officers pursuing the attackers, said that by yesterday morning, the bodies of those killed were still lying at the scene.

Animals recovered

The government was making arrangements to bury them according to their traditions.

“We have so far managed to recover five heads of cattle and are still pursuing the attackers. We have also called for reinforcement to hunt them down,” said the police boss.

The OCPD said tension has been high in the area since the abduction of a Pokot girl who was later shot dead by Turkana raiders last month.

“These are retaliatory attacks. We have held talks with them and also beefed up security in the area to prevent the raids,” said Mr Muutu.

The raid follows calls by pastoral communities for the government to disarm and mop up illegal guns to contain protracted cattle rustling and banditry activities that have killed scores and led to loss of property.

The leaders petitioned the government to introduce stringent measures at porous border points with neighbouring countries to contain the proliferation of illegal arms.