Eight police offers missing as bandits burn down vehicle, KCSE exam papers in Turkana

Turkana, Kenya: The fate of eight police officers who were ferrying Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination to a school in Turkana East constituency is unclear after heavily armed raiders attacked their car.

The officers are said to have come under heavy attack from the over 100 raiders who also burnt the car.

Former Kapedo Councillor Joseph Eragai said the attackers sprayed the police car with bullets Monday afternoon before setting it ablaze.

“The raiders numbering over 100 ambushed and sprayed the car with bullets at Kasarani. The officers scampered for safety. One was already injured by the time they fled. However, we are not sure about the safety of the rest who had been surrounded by the raiders,” he said.

Turkana Director of Education Nichodemus Anyang said they received the examination papers on Sunday at Lodwar airport and were expected to be transported Monday to Lokori police armoury awaiting distribution on Tuesday.

The former area councillor said the incident happened only two days after a county vehicle carrying hospital staff from Lodwar to Kapedo health centre was attacked and three people, including a teacher injured.

Anyang added that the exam was meant for Kapedo mixed secondary school where 25 candidates are set to sit for the examination which commences Tuesday.

He said that the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) had been notified and an arrangement has been made to airlift Tuesday's paper to the school using military chopper.

The director said due to the high levels of insecurity, the students will have to be relocated next week to Lokori where they will continue with their examinations.

Last week, the head teacher of Kapedo primary school was shot and seriously injured as he left school for his home.

Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor expressed worry over increased spate of attacks in the region.

He blamed the government over what he termed as passive action and unwillingness to restore order in the region where more people have been killed a number injured.

“I have raised concerns in parliament for the past three months about insecurity in Kapedo but no action has been taken. The government has one week to provide a solution towards the issue before the residents embark on protecting themselves,” he added.

Turkana Women Representative Joyce Emanikor called for immediate air response to rescue the officers.

Cases of Turkana/Pokot conflicts have escalated, only last week a vehicle was attacked between Lokichar and Kainuk where one person was killed and nine others injured.