A somber mood engulfed Kainuk, Turkana county after armed gunmen on Sunday, May 1, attacked a 14-seater-matatu on its way to Lodwar from Kitale.
According to Turkana South Sub-County police commander Robert Kibuchi, the gunmen sprayed the vehicle with bullets, leaving eight passengers and the matatu driver in critical condition.
Giving an account of the incident, Kibuchi noted that the gunmen approached the matatu along the Kapenguria-Lodwar road, ordering the vehicle to stop.
The attackers then proceeded to shoot the driver in the chest, before aiming the rifles at the passengers with the intent of shooting anyone who didn't comply with their commands.
The Turkana police boss stated that the gunmen robbed the passengers of their possessions including cash and mobile phones, before disappearing into nearby bushes.
“They (attackers) emerged from the bushes and signalled the matatu to stop. They, thereafter, shot the driver in the chest. The gunmen then embarked on haphazardly shooting at the matatu and its occupants,” he told the media.
Those injured including the driver, were taken to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital, West Pokot county.
“The four, who are in critical condition, are three passengers and the driver of the matatu. Two of the passengers had been shot in the head, while the driver had been shot in the chest,” he noted.
The area police boss put the attackers on notice, noting that their proverbial 40 days were almost over. He noted that a manhunt had been launched to flush out the gunmen from their hideouts.
The incident is not an isolated case as the Kainuk area is notorious for bandits who have become a menace to society.
The insecurity within the Northern region has been a cause of concern for residents who have urged the government to take action and contain the threats posed by area bandits.
Despite the heavy police presence deployed at Marich Pass, barely 30 kilometres from Kainuk, attacks have been frequent. The locals have in the past accused the police of laxity as they are supposed to be patrolling the area 24/7 and escorting passenger vehicles.
