By Standard Reporter
TURKANA, KENYA: Rift Valley police commanders were unaware of the number of officers who participated in the ill-fated mission to recover stolen cattle from the Turkana on November 10.
The nature of the shambolic mission is captured in their operation order claiming that 108 officers took part while the investigation team established that 132 officers were involved.
The operation had 24 officers from Baragoi station, Maralal (5), General Service Unit (11), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (26), and Administration Police (66).
However, there are 27 officers who participated in the operation who did not appear in the operation order. Out of 27 faceless officers, two died in the operation. Those who died are Duncan Okello and Mutua Munialo. The two are also listed as missing in the report.
Valley of Death
The report states 22 officers died in the operation and were identified. However, there are five bodies of unidentified officers in the morgue. The bodies are believed to be those of APs killed in the operation.
There are nine officers who are still missing. The missing officers are Daniel Mulyungi, Okello, Christopher Musyoka, Paul Etyang, Minialo, Daniel Kamau, Emmanuel Alachi, Jillo Woche and Charles Maina.
The report indicates that 87 officers survived the operation while 14 were injured.
It was noted that most security officers killed by bandits in the attack were largely inexperienced and unsure of the treacherous Suguta Valley.
