Scribes face torment in killer Nadome valley

Pokot youths keep vigil at Silale in Baringo County after raiders attacked Nadome Village. (Photo: Boniface Thuku/Standard)

Journalists who set out to cover the Monday Nadome massacre in which more than 100 people were killed following fierce gunfight between Turkana raiders and armed Pokot warriors went through harsh experiences.

A writer from a leading media house had to brave the cold night in the bush after losing track.

The scribes drawn from the Standard Group, Nation Media Group, Royal Media and the People Daily had to trek for more than 18km to access Nadome valley, where raiders struck on Monday killing women, children and several men from both Turkana and Pokot communities.

KTN cameraman Peter Kimani nearly collapsed due to the sweltering heat and rough terrain, which involved ascending and descending hills and valleys covered with thorny shrubs.

Eldoret-based Daily Nation writer Wycliffe Kipsang got lost after missing the direction, making him wander more than 50km away deep into the wilderness.

Found alive

Mr Kipsang disappeared at 2pm on Tuesday until around 10am Wednesday when he was found alive at the volatile border between Turkana East and Tiaty constituencies.

"I lost trace of my colleagues but when I tried to chase after them I got lost. It was really hard and life-threatening for me," he said after being rescued.

The Standard's photojournalist Boniface Thuku, who at the start of the journey had promised to lead the way, arrived after eight hours limping with his camera hanging on his right arm, while holding a drenched shirt in the left hand.

He was among those dehydrated and had to drink dirty water along the way for survival throughout the journey that kicked off at 2pm and ended some minutes past 9pm.

People Daily's Nakuru Bureau Chief Noah Cheploen and two female journalists were almost shot at by armed Pokot warriors as they attempted to trace their way back.

According to Cheploen, three gunmen accosted them at a rocky area but they were later freed after they duped them that they were staff from the Red Cross.