Bullet cartridges litter the floor of a sentry room at the Kapenguria police station after an attack by a lone gunman. [Photo: Kevin Tunoi/Standard]
Security officers in North Rift are on high alert over fears that Al Shabaab terror group may be making inroads in the region.
Thursday, the area experienced its first terror-related attack when a rogue police man on a mission to rescue a terror suspect seized a gun and engaged officers at Kapenguria Police Station in a shoot-out.
Seven police officers including the station commanding officer were killed in the attack. This came as Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Abdi Hassan revealed that up to 20 youths from the region had disappeared and might have joined the militant group.
Although he did not name them, Mr Hassan said the youths have been missing since 2013.
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“We know their homes and we urge them to come back. We are aware they may have joined the militant group, and could be plotting attacks but we are steadfast, our teams are on alert,” he said.
He urged parents to monitor the behaviour of their children to ensure Al Shabaab does not gain foothold in the region.
North Rift is known for banditry and cattle rustling; the reason why Thursday’s attack raised eyebrows.
Livestock theft is common in West Pokot County, but an Al Shabaab attack has never been reported.
The Kapenguria attack conjured up memories of a January 15 attack where Kenyan soldiers were killed in their camp at El-Ade in Somalia. A number of soldiers killed hailed from counties in the North Rift, and were drawn from the 9th KR Moi Barracks in Eldoret.
Earlier, a Moi University ICT graduate who had converted to Islam was beheaded by the militants in Somalia after they accused him of spying for Kenyan security forces.
