13-year-old boy shot dead by bandits in West pokot

West Pokot, Kenya: A 13-year-old boy was Tuesday gunned down at Orwo in West Pokot County by suspected Turkana assailants barely three days after another person was killed along the border region sparking protests by local leaders.

The minor, who was in the company of his father and other villagers, were herding their livestock at around 4pm when they were attacked by the assailants.

Witnesses said the attackers escaped without stealing anything raising queries over the recent spate of killings in which children have become targets while aggressors do not steal anything.

One of the witnesses, a neighbor to the deceased, Rhoda Chepatei said the assailants targeted young and innocent children, which is a big blow to the community.

Chepatei, who hails from Tulung’wo village said men from the area graze their animals between Orwo and Turkwel junction along the Kapenguria-Lodwar highway.

She said the herders had trekked several kilometers in search of water and pasture for their animals.

She called on leaders to unite and end the perennial conflicts witnessed between the two communities.

A relative to the deceased, Lilian Loyakim who said she was she first to receive the sad news of the minor's death, raised concern over the nature of killings witnessed in the recent past.

Local leaders have protested the surging communal fights and now want the national government to intervene.

Led by West Pokot County Assembly Minority Leader David Moiben, the leaders described as saddening and which aims at provoking the community.