In what was the third attack in under 24 hours, suspected bandits raided the Lami Nyeusi region in West Pokot County on Thursday, April 6.
The attacks left five people dead and the bandits escaped with 18 goats according to security officers.
Earlier, bandits had attacked Elgeyo Marakwet and Samburu Counties killing three people and escaping with an unknown number of livestock.
According to West Pokot County Commissioner, Apollo Okello, the bandits attacked the Lami Nyeusi region at 10.00 AM in the morning.
A photo collage of KDF officers during a training exercise (left) and suspected armed bandits (Right)
KENYA DEFENCE FORCES/ BARINGO NEWS
Okello further revealed that it was suspected that the bandits had crossed the border from Turkana Counties.
“When police officers responded to the scene, they found that the bandits had already gunned down five people along Kapenguria – Lodwar Highway,” the commissioner revealed.
He further stated that security officers were in hot pursuit of the suspects and were confident they would be apprehended and the stolen livestock recovered.
Okello further revealed that the gunned locals were well known in the area and that could cause tension in the region.
“To quell the tensions, I will personally visit the region. The people who lost their lives are in the gold mining business,” he stated.
The dead were moved to Kapenguria County Referral Morgue awaiting postmortem.
The bandits are unrelenting despite the police and military presence in the region.
On Monday, February 13, President William Ruto ordered a joint operation between Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service to the troubled North Rift.
The combined forces were aided by US satellites to pinpoint the exact location of the bandits.
Bandits continued to outsmart security agencies in the region forcing the government through Interior Ministry to issue vacate order on select areas on Sunday, March 12.
This was followed by heavy deployment of military personnel and advanced artillery weapons on Monday, March 13.
A photo collage of suspected bandits celebrating in Baringo (left) and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki (right).
Baringo News/Kithure Kindiki
