15 High School Students Injured, Driver Killed After Bus Sprayed With Bullets

A Kenyan police officer pictured at a crime scene.
A Kenyan police officer pictured at a crime scene.
Kenyans.co.ke

15 Tot High School students are admitted at the Kapsowar Mission Hospital after armed bandits attacked their school buses as they were returning from a school trip on the evening of Thursday, February 17.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a source privy to the incident noted that a driver was shot dead during the attack that took place along the Tot - Arror Road in Elgeyo Marakwet County. The students were in a convoy of three buses.

Additionally, two teachers - a male and female - are in critical condition after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds even as police launch a manhunt for the suspects.

Undated image of detectives at a crime scene in Nairobi, Kenya
Undated image of detectives at a crime scene in Nairobi, Kenya
File

The Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander, Patrick Lumumba, stated that investigations had commenced as they track down the bandits.

“Recovery efforts are ongoing and the students have been taken to various health facilities in Kerio Valley and those with serious injuries referred to Kapsowar Mission Hospital,” he stated.

However, Lumumba criticised the school administration for allowing the students to use the road despite the recent attacks that have been experienced in the area.

Following the attack, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen, took to social media to lament over the inaction by the police in dealing with the bandits in the area.

"I hope Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai are aware that earlier in the evening a convoy of three buses carrying students of Tot Secondary School was attacked along Arror - Tot Road.

"I thought you said never again? Despite your promises, no protection and no National Police Reservist (NPR)," he stated.

While meeting with leaders drawn from Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, and West Pokot counties on February 4, CS Matiang'i ordered a security operation to flush out the bandits from the region.

"The crisis in Kerio Valley is no longer a resource conflict but a territorial expansionist strategy being instigated by a section of leaders.

"This is the only place during my tenure in the Interior ministry that I have visited, not once but thrice with no end to conflicts," he stated then.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addressing a security conference in Nairobi
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addressing a security conference in Nairobi
Kenyans.co.ke
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