Man shot dead during bandit attack in Baringo

Baringo, Kenya: One man was on Wednesday evening shot dead during a fierce fire exchange between suspected bandits and herders in Chemoe village, Baringo County.

Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwayo said that police officers responded to the shoot-out and managed to recover 85 cattle, which the bandits had stolen from the diseased.

The man, identified as Stephen Kipkemei, 60, is said to have been looking after his livestock before the armed gang of 15 ambushed him, killing him on the spot.

"The police officers responded to distress calls from residents and drove to the scene where heavy fire exchange between the local Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) and the bandits was ongoing," said the county commissioner.

Mr. Okwanyo said the bandits who were heavily armed were overpowered after a one-hour heated fire exchange with the combined effort of the police and the KPR. They surrendered the livestock and escaped towards Tiaty sub-county where they are believed to have originated from.

"This is a volatile area and more security officers are required to combat such incidences," said Okwanyo.

The County Commissioner said that the body of the deceased is at Baringo County Referral Hospital in Kabarnet morgue.

Tension remained high in the area as residents fled from their homes following the 4pm attack.

Five primary schools in the area are now facing indefinite  closure as families move with their children and livestock to other areas.

Some of the primary schools which did not open on Thursday are Chemoe, Kagir, Yatya, Kaboron and Ng'aratuklo, all in Baringo North.

Residents are now asking for the deployment of more KPR to the area to provide swift retaliation whenever an attack occurs.

Samwel Cherutich, a resident of Chemoe told the Standard that the attack has further subjected residents to the fangs of hunger with fleeing families now likely to crowd in camps as they await calm to resume.

"What we fear most is hunger. The persistent drought has left many desperate bearing in mind there was no harvest made last year. We appeal to the government and well-wishers to provide us with food and other non-food items," said Cherutich.