Water and Sanitation CS Alice Wahome on Friday, January 20, has spoken out over a bandit attack that took place while she was on an official tour of Marsabit town.
A team close to the CS told Kenyans.co.ke that the fire exchange took place a few kilometres from where Wahome was meeting local leaders for a meeting over water challenges in the area.
However, the Water Cabinet Secretary was not personally affected by the fight that ensued between Kenya Wildlife Service officers and the Marsabit bandits.
"The Cabinet Secretary was not in any way affected by the fights that were going on at Marsabit. She left the town safely and attended another event in Othaya town," Wahome's communication team clarified.
Prior to the attack, Wahome inspected the construction of Bakuli Dam near Marsabit Forest when her team heard gunshots.
The fight that lasted several minutes was instigated by bandits who staged an attack on local livestock.
It was reported that the bandits killed an elderly herder at Marsabit Catholic Shrine area in Saku Sub-County before driving away an unknown number of cattle and goats.
The bandits bumped into KWS officers as they attempted to escape into Marsabit Forest.
In response, Kenya Wildlife Service officers unleashed a barrage of firepower that pinned down the bandits minutes before making a daring escape into the thicket.
One of the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds, even as security officers evacuated CS Wahome from the scene and later proceeded to Marsabit Police Station to fly out.
Marsabit County Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo made a passionate plea to the government to decisively deal with issues affecting the people of Marsabit, including the cattle rustling menace.
“Madam Waziri (CS), kindly convey our message to President Ruto and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to act immediately and combat cattle rustling which has become a thorn in our flesh in this county,” Gubo explained.
