A police officer has been left dead following a banditry attack in West Pokot. Authorities have revealed there were six bandits who were heavily armed in the attack and were drawn from Elgeiyo Marakwet.
The officer, James Pkemoi was ambushed at Sermach Village, West Pokot County in what is believed to be a retaliation attack.
Pkemoi, aged 33 was a National Police Reservist, Chesegon Division Assistant County Commission Naftali Korir confirmed.
“The gunmen ambushed him on Wednesday evening while in the company of his two friends who escaped without being hurt,” Korir said.
On October 11, 2021, three people were killed and one other seriously injured after suspected bandits raided a home at Ndindika Village, Ngarua division, Laikipia County.
The incident occurred Sunday at 4 pm when three suspected Pokot bandits staged a daring attack at the home of Michael Kananu and made away with 32 herds of cattle and two sheep.
While driving the stolen cattle towards Laikipia Nature Conservancy, the bandits shot indiscriminately at the four who were fishing at Mbogoini Dam at the time.
Responding to the attack, a multi-agency security team responded promptly and an exchange of fire with the criminals ensued.
All the livestock stolen were recovered and returned to the owner.
According to Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai, an intensive search for the suspected bandits believed to be behind the attack is currently underway in the region.
“The Multi-agency security team is still out pursuing the criminals. We understand that bandits flushed out of the Operation Zones of Laikipia have sought refuge in settlement areas and continue to engage in acts of criminality by meting pain and anguish to families,” said IG Mutyambai.
“While we regret the loss of lives occasioned by the blood-thirsty criminals, we ask that locals report to police strangers in their neighbourhoods who are likely to have escaped from the Operation Zones,” he added.
“The Multi-agency Security Teams will urgently review their approach to areas that were initially perceived to be of low risks of attacks to ensure that lives and properties are equally protected as those at the high risk areas,” said IG Mutyambai.
On September 7,2021, heavily armed bandits on Tuesday afternoon torched a school in Laikipia West as tension continued to build in the area that has been ravaged by insecurity.
In a brazen attack, the bandits torched Mirigwiti Primary School before engaging security officers in a brief gunfight before they fled.
The attack happened as Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya launched a security operation about four kilometres away in Ol Moran town.
The incident comes a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i announced a major security operation to flush out illegal occupants of bandit-prone areas in Laikipia County.
According to Rift Valley Regional Coordinator, Mirigwiti is among schools that were closed down due to the insecurity in Laikipia.
“There were no pupils in school as the school is among those that were recently shut down due to insecurity in the area,” stated Mr Natembeya.
“We will be ruthless and we will flush out all the bandits from the region. We cannot tolerate this height of criminality,” added the administrator who arrived in the area minutes after the bandits fled.
Mr Natembeya said that the bandits are using heavy and sophisticated firearms.
“While our officers are using AK-47 and G3 rifles, they are using M16 and other heavy rifles,” he said, adding that the weapons are those used by soldiers from foreign countries who come to train in Kenya.
“We don’t know how they get these heavy weapons, but it is an issue that needs a thorough investigation,” said Mt Natembeya.
Meanwhile residents continued to flee the restive Ol Moran despite assurances from the government that their security is guaranteed.
On Monday, the government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the restive areas of Laikipia Nature Conservancy and its environs. CS Matiang’i termed them disturbed areas.
In a statement issued on Monday, Dr Matiang’i said the directive affects parts of the expansive conservancy, which has been turned into a hideout for armed bandits.
The conservancy is owned by conservationist and author Kuki Gallmann.
Two weeks ago attackers also set ablaze an education centre belonging to the conservationist.
