Police reservist killed, herders injured in raid

By LUCAS NG’ASIKE

Turkana and West Pokot counties: A Kenya Police Reservist was killed and three herders critically injured when suspected Pokot raiders struck Kalemunyang village in Loima district along Turkana-Pokot border.

More than 2,000 livestock were also stolen when heavily armed raiders attacked Turkana herders in the village at the weekend.

Loima OCPD Michael Muchiri said unknown number of suspected Pokot raiders opened fire at the herdsmen before they escaped with dozens of animals towards Pokot North district.

He said security agents, including General Service Unit and police reservists, have been deployed to the area to pursue the raiders and recover the stolen animals.

“It is unfortunate that we were unable to get timely information on the raids to respond effectively because of a communication hitch and the vastness of the area,” Muchiri said.

Loima MP Protus Akuja blamed the raid on laxity of security officers to beef up security and respond promptly to the attack.

Akuja faulted the police and claimed three people were missing after the raids and their fate is not known. “We had alerted security officers of the impending raid but the matter fell on deaf ears. Infact security officers responded 12 hours after the attack when the raiders had already killed people and escaped with the animals towards Pokot North,” a bitter Akuja said.

Peace pact

The MP said for the last one month suspected Pokot raiders have staged more than four attacks on Turkana herders in Lorengippi and Kotaruk areas where dozen of animals have been lost.

The OCPD, however, said security officers  recovered 200 goats and sheep from the raiders.

The latest incident occurred shortly after MPs from Turkana and Pokot cattle rustling-prone counties signed a peace pact last month aimed at eradicating cattle rustling.