Senior police officer under probe over banditry link as 3 people killed in Baringo, Samburu counties

Three people have been killed and one person seriously injured in separate bandit attacks in Samburu and Baringo counties.

The affected residents say they are yet to see the results of an ongoing security operation aimed at flushing out bandits launched by the government last month.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer in Baringo County is under investigation over allegations of aiding and abetting banditry.

Lolurubai archers post area in Samburu East village is in mourning following the latest banditry attack that claimed the lives of two herders.

“Tukakuta miili yake inalala chini na imo watu hawajachukua mali yetu...tukapata yeye mwili yake iko chini, amekufa na serikali haina njia yoyote yakutusaidia, watoto wetu wanakufa bure,” Nancy Lorno, who lost her brother in the early Friday morning attack, said.

A few kilometres away in Lolmisigoi village, another herder was killed by armed bandits who made away with 93 head of cattle.

Area leaders describe the occurrences as an emerging trend of retaliatory attacks.

“Ni nini inaendelea kwa sababu si wizi wa mifugo na sio ile kitu tunaeza sema tunafuatilia saizi...lakini tunafuatilia ndio tujue mauaji imesababishwa na nini,” Joy Lenauwabene, the area Chief, stated.

In Baringo County, at least four people have been killed within one week in different attacks, with the latest happening on Friday morning at Nosukro area in Baringo South, leaving one person seriously injured.

A senior police officer in Baringo County is under investigation over allegations of aiding and abetting banditry.

The officer is alleged to have communicated with people believed to be bandits informing them of a planned visit to the operation zone by the airforce commander.

He is reported to have instructed them to cease fire as they would have been met with air strikes had they attacked on Friday.

Mid-February 2023, President William Ruto ordered a joint police and military operation to weed out bandits and recover illegal firearms in the North Rift Region

“The bandits have sustained their attacks against civilians and law enforcers, stealing uncountable livestock, displacing thousands from their homes, torching police vehicles, schools and essential social amenities,” the President said then.

In the last week, more than 6 people have been killed in different attacks in Baringo County with over 300 livestock stolen. The most affected areas include Kinyach, Kagir, Ngaratuko, Yatya, Chemorong’ion and Kosile.

More than 10 deaths have been reported in Turkana County from the second last week of February to date in attacks in areas such as Lokori, Ngulukya, Kainuk, Lomelo, Kaakong, Logoron, Kerio valley and Kapelbok. The bandits have stolen close to 2000 head of cattle.

In Samburu, 6 people have been killed in attacks in Pora, Marti, Lolmolog, Longowan and Lobongare areas. The bandits have also wreaked havoc in Elgeiyo Market killing several people.

Baringo, Turkana, Samburu, Elgeiyo Marakwet, West Pokot and Laikipia are among the six counties in the Rift Valley listed by the government as disturbed and dangerous.