Suspected thugs sprayed a matatu with bullets on Wednesday, March 22, after its driver defied their orders to stop the car.
According to preliminary reports, the public service vehicle (PSV) was headed to Kitale from Lodwar when it was stopped by a group of around 10 men past Kakong Trading Center.
The driver allegedly defied the men's order prompting them to open fire on the car.
One person was shot dead following the melee, and three others were left nursing gunshot wounds.
"The vehicle landed on the left side of the road whereby the bandits stole all valuables from the passengers," stated the police report.
Reports further indicated that the attackers looted property of unknown value after shooting at the driver, forcing him to stop.
The injured were taken to Kakong' Dispensary for treatment while the body of the victim was transferred to Lodwar County Referral Hospital mortuary.
It was not immediately established whether the armed men were bandits or local gangs in the area.
The incident happened hours after security officers gunned down one person in the Chesegon area along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties border.
Confirming the incident, Pokot Central Sub County Police commandant Nelson Omwenga stated that the security officers were patrolling the area when they spotted four unknown armed men heading towards Elgeyo Marakwet direction.
The officers confronted them, but the four opened fire forcing the law enforcement officers to retaliate. A gun was recovered following the confrontation.
To tackle banditry, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki deployed police and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers in the disturbed regions.
