There was a double catastrophe in Samburu after gunmen stormed the burial ceremony of a National Police Reservist who was slain by bandits.
The suspected bandits accessed the funeral venue of the officer while opening fire, causing fear and confusion among the mourners.
Police reservists at the event suspended the program and whisked attendees away to safety while positioning themselves to retaliate against the impromptu attack.
However, one person succumbed to gunshot wounds. It was yet to be clear whether the deceased was a reservist or a mourner.
“This morning we are trying to get security personnel (to heighten our safety) because there was an issue of another killing [sic],” one of the mourners stated.
The officer who was being laid to rest was shot in an ambush as reservists pursued bandits who had raided a home and made away with nine cows.
Mourners added that the motive behind the attack was yet to be ascertained but suspected that the bandits were retaliating against security operations in the region.
Area leaders joined the residents of Samburu in agitating for an end to the senseless killings carried out by bandits in the region.
Speaking following the attack, former Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe urged the government to insure the lives of the National Police Reservists.
“From today I am starting a movement. For all who have lost their lives and the government has failed to save them, I will look for lawyers and take their cases to court,” he stated
Lesiyampe further recalled how his home was targeted on Sunday but police intervened and prevented bandits from stealing his cattle.
