By Standard Team
Two suspected Pokot cattle rustlers were on Monday shot dead by security personnel in Yatia area in Baringo North District in a foiled raid.
The deceased are suspected to part of a gang of bandits that has been terrorising the residents.
Baringo OCPD Samuel Muthamia confirmed the incident.
“The rustlers were planning to raid the village at night prompting us to be on high alert,” Muthamia said.
There was a fierce exchange of fire between the police and the bandits in the 9am incident that saw 10 suspects escape with gun wounds.
Muthamia assured the residents that security in the area has been beefed up and urged them to report suspicious characters to authorities.
Insecurity incidences have left three dead, several injured and livestock stolen. They have also forced the closure of several schools after more than 500 families fled the area after frequent raids.
Armed
In Igembe North District, armed rustlers attacked and killed three herders at Ndumuru area.
Six others who were injured are admitted in critical condition in separate hospitals in Meru County.
The rustlers who struck in two consecutive incidents started their raid on Sunday night and stole 60 goats and 80 cows.?
According to David M’Itirithia who is in charge of the Kenya Police Reservists in the region, the morning attack was a revenge mission after the reservists followed up and recovered livestock that had been stolen.
?“The rustlers who struck at dawn were collaboration between the Turkana and Borana communities and were armed with sophisticated weapons including M16s and AK-47s,” M’Itirithia said.
Retaliation
Elsewhere, tension was high in Chiga, Kisumu County, following a raid by cattle rustlers from a neighbouring community in Aldai Constituency.
Kisumu Senior District Commissioner Mabeya Mogaka said two head were stolen from Chiga and the locals traced them to Aldai in Nandi South. This led to a retaliatory attack that saw 27 cows stolen from Aldai.
Mogaka said they managed to reconcile the two communities amicably and one of the thieves arrested.
— Stories By Robert Kiplagat, Patrick Muthuri and Maureen Odiwuor
