Cattle rustlers shoot and injure officer in four-hour gun fight

Women from Murkutwo location in Marakwet East Sub-County march to the sub-county headquarters in Chesoi, 30km away, to protests against rising cases of cattle rustling. [Photo: Fred Kibor/Standard]

A police officer was shot and wounded by armed herders who ambushed a convoy of General Service Unit (GSU) officers in Baringo.

The herders also deflated an armoured personnel carrier. Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo said the injured officer, who was shot in the head, was rescued after a four-hour gun fight at Kapindasum. He was taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The commissioner said a contingent of security officers was ambushed as they cleared barricaded roads on Sunday.

“The attackers have erected illegal roadblocks all over the place and warned the Government and residents of dire consequences. Police have been chased away in the past,” Mr Okwanyo said.

Four police armoured vehicles were allocated to Baringo and immediately deployed to cattle rustling-prone areas.

Botched operation

A similar attack was staged about two years ago in Kasarani, Kapedo, where 21 Administration Police officers were killed, a police truck torched and firearms and bullets stolen.

Silale MCA Nelson Lotela criticised security officers for shooting dead 35 cattle during the confrontation and demanded an investigation.

He said 20 cattle were killed by police during a botched operation to flush out perceived illegal herders in Rugus, Baringo South two weeks ago.

Okwanyo defended the police, saying their lives were in danger and had to defend themselves using their weapons at all costs.

“It is not in dispute that cows died and we will not regret that. Criminals will not be allowed to use cows as their shield and massacre our officers. The Government intention to drive them back is unstoppable,” he said.

He said a simultaneous attack was staged along the border of Baringo and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties and more than 100 cattle stolen from the Marakwet side and driven across Kerio Valley into Baringo. Okwanyo said one person was shot dead and several others injured.

On Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery will be in Baringo to address insecurity challenges affecting residents as he starts a three-day tour of cattle rustling-prone areas in North Rift.

The Cabinet secretary, who is expected to visit security camps and address residents, will be accompanied by Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and top regional security officers. According to Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Wanyama Musiambo, the tour is expected to bring together elected leaders from five cattle rustling-prone counties of Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo and Elgeyo-Marakwet.

Speaking in Marigat during a women leadership forum attended by four female MPs, the tough talking regional commissioner warned residents against joining cartels involved in cattle rustling.

“Claims by security officers that stolen animals cannot be traced and recovered are questionable. We have information that such animals are transported in lorries and sold elsewhere,” Mr Wanyama said.