8 Police Officers Among 11 Killed in Ambush

An undated photo of a police car in Kenya
An undated photo of a police car in Kenya.
file

Eleven people among them police officers were on the night of Saturday, September 24 killed in an ambush by bandits in a village in Turkana East.

A statement by Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso indicated that among those killed were eight police officers, two civilians and a chief.

The officers were pursuing the rustlers when they were attacked by the armed thugs who also made away with some of the livestock.

"The National Police Service regrets to inform on the criminal and cowardly ambush by cattle rustling bandits on innocent members of the public and police officers. The officers were in hot pursuit of Pokot bandits who had raided a village in Turkana East and made away with livestock.

Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso addressing the press.
Former police spokesperson Bruno Shioso addressing the press.
Capital Group

"A local chief, two (2) members of the public and eight police officers succumbed to the injuries," announced the National Police Service (NPS) in a statement.

Separately, former Presidential contender Ekuru Aukot noted that his sister was one of the victims in the attack.

While calling for action from the police, the politician noted that his sister was a mother of two children.

"Dear President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, I just lost my sister Mary Kanyaman, a mother of little kids, to Pokot bandits in Napeitom.

"We have also lost the area chief and eight other police officers. We will Bury them, but fix the insecurity issue in Turkana East," stated Aukot.

The NPS, however, assured the public of its safety and dispatched more troops to the region to end the menace which has affected the area for years.

"We have dispatched additional officers to reinforce the troops on the ground in beefing up security in the area and pursue the bandits.

"NPS reassures the public that all necessary measures shall be taken to restore security and safety in the region. NPS further condoles with the bereaved families of the departed officers and members of the public," mourned NPS.

Turkana East is part of the larger Rift Valley region that is affected by cattle rustling with the most affected region being Kerio Valley. An operation to remove the bandits is still ongoing.

A gun-carrying bandit
An undated image of a gun-carrying bandit.
Photo: KDF
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