By Paul Wafula

SAMBURU, KENYA: Strong objections from the Operation Commander and the Samburu North OCPD on conducting the suicidal operation were overruled.

The Provincial Police Officer (PPO) and the Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer (PCIO) overruled them and were instructed to prepare and execute the operation.

“By this time, a reinforcement of five Kenya Police officers from Samburu Central and Administration Police officers from the following areas; nine from Samburu Central, two from Laikipia West, two from Nyahururu, 29 from West Pokot, one from Eldoret East and five from Nakuru had been brought in readiness for the operation,” the report says.

The reservists who arrived were equally distributed into the three platoons. The reservists were not to shoot at all unless attacked by the raiders.  At about 3.30am, the troops boarded four lorries and one Land Cruiser from Baragoi Police Station and proceeded to Lomelok for the operation.

The sector commanders disagreed on whether to continue with the operation or to withdraw since it was already daytime and animals had been relocated.

“In the process, the reservists managed to go up the next escarpment and located the animals in another manyatta at a distance down the valley. This was around 8am. After some disagreement, the commanders finally agreed to proceed through Lomelok valley and retrieve the sighted head of cattle,” it adds.

At around 9am, they were ambushed between two ridges and were greatly disadvantaged by the elevation of the ridges. They were attacked from both sides and from the front. Finally, they were surrounded, overpowered and scampered for safety. 

Crossfire

About 6,058 rounds of ammunition were fired by police in the crossfire at Suguta, police records show.  The report says a total of 29 firearms went missing after the botched operation, 28 of them G3 and one AK-47 rifle.

As a result, 28 police officers were killed and 14 others injured. Out of the dead, 24 have been identified while four are still pending identification through DNA. Two officers are still missing.

A total of 29 firearms were lost to the enemy. There was no recovery of any of the stolen stock.

“The operation commander appears to have had no role as he remained in his hotel room in Baragoi town as the four sectors proceeded to the battle ground,” the report says.