Nadome massacre survivors recount attack

Chemorong Mudiang, at Rift Valley provincial General Hospital, narrates how he survived the attack (Photo: Kipsang Joseph/Standard)

Survivors of the Monday attack at the border of Baringo and Turkana counties, which left 54 people dead and scores wounded, Wednesday recalled the horror that unfolded at Nadome and Nasorot villages.

Kachii Lonyangaloka, Saban Rianakabel, Chomoreng Muduiongor and Pokela Ngorakeris are now receiving treatment at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital (PGH) in Nakuru.

They were taken there by a Kenya Red Cross team that rescued them on Tuesday afternoon after they spent more than 12 hours in the bush, nursing gunshot wounds.

Rianakabel, 23, said the attackers struck at around 5am and sprayed villagers with bullets. He was shot as he tried to escape to the bush.

Mudiongor said two families who lived next to him had all their children wiped out.

“I was shot in the head while asleep in my house. I was awoken by the gunshots and I fled to the bush. For now I don’t even know where my children and five wives are,” he said.

He said he witnessed the attackers slit their victims' throats with knives, leaving them for dead as the fighting, which lasted for more than six hours, raged on.

Doctors at the hospital said Rianakabel would undergo operation to remove a bullet lodged in his hip.

“All the other three are in stable condition and they will be discharged soon. They have been assessed and we can say they are not in a bad condition,” said Alphaxard Kemboi, the nursing officer-in-charge.

Hundreds of Nadome villagers lost an unknown number of livestock to the attackers who are said to have fled towards Lomelo in Turkana County. Mudiongor said Nadome and Nasorot are now ghost settlements after residents fled to safety.

“There is no one in that village now. Those who were lucky have moved to safer places,” he said.

But the four vowed they will not cower from fighting for their rights.

“They (Turkana) should be advised to return the animals they stole on Monday because we shall demand them back when we leave here. We shall revenge,” said Kachii.

Former Baringo East MP Joseph Lotodo, who visited the survivors, described the horrendous incident as a “shame to the leaders of Baringo” for failing to team up to find a meaningful solution to the long-running problem.

Lotodo also faulted the Jubilee administration for failing to respond firmly to the insecurity in Baringo.

“Where is the Government two days after the attack? Why do they watch as communities engage in revenge attacks?” he asked.