Five shot dead as bandits ambush Turkana village

Lokoriman Kalale, a police reservist, was shot when bandits raided Kakong village in Turkana South district last month. In last Friday’s attack, two reservists were killed when raiders ambushed Kaptir and Kapelbok villages in Turkana South.

Five people, including two police reservists, were killed on Friday evening by bandits in Turkana South.

Four others were injured and taken to Kaptir dispensary and then transferred to Lodwar District Hospital.

According to a police reservist who took part in a three-hour stand-off at a grazing field between Kaptir and Kapelbok villages, there were about 200 bandits.

“Pupils from Kapelbok primary school who were on their way home in Lomopus village informed us at 3 pm that they had seen armed attackers,” said the reservist who declined to be named.

And addressing journalists at Kaptir village, Katilu county assembly member James Abei said only four bodies had been brought home.

“The fifth body is still in the battle field,” said Mr Abei.

He said such raids are common in Turkana South because police reservists were disarmed after an administration police man was killed at Nakwamoru.

A sobre mood engulfed the two villages as residents discussed the sad event in hushed tones.

Mrs Losinyon Ekidor said she has now lost her entire family to bandits.

“I lost my husband and a son last year to bandits. I buried them and now I have lost my remaining son Paulo Ekidor and my animals,” said Ms Ekidor as a group of youth dug a grave for her son, just next to her husband’s grave.

Katilu Ward Administrator Simon Koloi said the bandits took three firearms, two belonging to the reservists.

At a public baraza attended by Turkana South police chief Kipsang Changach, women who looked shaken, told the government to relocate them once they finish buying their husbands and sons. Residents also urged the government to recruit and arm reservists.

Meanwhile, calm has returned to Barpello in Tiaty in Baringo County following Friday’s killing of a General Service Unit officer by suspected Pokot raiders.

Two other officers were injured during a two-hour shootout which saw the officers held hostage for hours until a Kenya Wildlife Service helicopter airlifted them.

The officers were part of a joint police force that was on its way to Marigat after recovering animals that had been stolen from Kapindasum in Baringo South on Thursday night.

Baringo County Commissioner Benard Leparmarai and Baringo County Police Commandant Hassan Barua said the two officers are in a stable condition.

“The officers repulsed the raiders and were coming back with the animals when they were ambushed by a group who sprayed them with bullets killing one of the officers,” Mr Leparmarai told reporters at Kabarnet District Hospital.

“It is clear that many herders still possess firearms. We will not rest until guns in the wrong hands are re-possessed. This attack will not cower our soldiers,” he said.

Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim, whose constituency has suffered most of the attacks, accused fellow leaders.

Speaking to the Sunday Nation, she criticised Tiaty MP Asman Kamama for failing to attend a security meeting at Chepkalacha GSU camp recently attended by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.