Two police officers injured as cattle rustlers raid ranch in Rumuruti

Laikipia West OCPD Mbalengo Mohare at Nyahururu Private hospital. The police boss was shot by cattle rustlers in Rumuruti. (Photo: James Munyeki/Standard)

Laikipia West OCPD Mbelengo Mohare was on Tuesday evening shot and injured by cattle rustlers.

He was shot in the chest at around 6.30pm in Kifuko ranch, on the outskirts of Rumuruti town.

According to Laikipia County Commander Simon Kipkeu, Mr Mbelengo was leading a team of security officers that was tracking down cattle rustlers.

“The suspects had stolen an unknown number of cattle and driven them towards Kifuko ranch... When they realised that they were being followed, they laid an ambush and shot at our officers,” he said.

He said Mbelengo was taken to Rumuruti Sub-county Hospital where he was given first aid before being transferred to Nyahururu Private Hospital for further treatment. He was later transferred to Forces Memorial Hospital in Nairobi.

Mr Kipkeu said no other casualties were reported, adding that more police officers had been deployed to the area to help pursue the raiders.

ILLEGAL HERDERS

Another police officer was yesterday shot and injured by armed cattle rustlers at Miteta in Laikipia west. The attackers torched houses before fleeing towards Baringo County through Miteta valley.

The rustlers who were masquerading as grazers shot at the General Service Unit officer, who is based at Kiserian camp, when he was driving a police armoured vehicle at Miteta trading centre. Githiga MCA Peter Thomi, who had escorted security personnel who were being deployed in the area to evict illegal herders, said the armed bandits, who numbered about 10, emerged from the valley catching the police officers unaware.

“The security officers were to set up a camp at Miteta trading centre and they were driving in their armoured vehicles. It is upon reaching the Miteta Valley that they were accosted by the rustlers who shot at them. It was then that the officer was shot on the leg,” he said.

He was taken to a hospital in Nyahururu.

Another group of cattle rustler raided Kaben, Marakwet East at the West Pokot County border and killed one person yesterday.

Roncers Stephen, 25, was shot in the chest and died on the spot when the raiders sprayed bullets on a group of Marakwet youth who were on patrol together with officers from the National Police Reservists (NPR) unit along the Liter-Chesegon road.

The bandits fled after a fierce gunfight with the NPR officers. Nothing was stolen. Before the dust could settle, another group of cattle rustlers believed to be from Tiaty Sub-county raided the neighbouring Murkutwa location in Kisoka but were repulsed by NPR officers.

Residents vented their frustrations on the Government for failing to contain the menace, which was escalating by the day.

“We are being killed by Pokot raiders on a daily basis yet there are hundreds of police officers. Why are they not dealing with the rustlers?” wondered Joseph Kemboi a resident.

Marakwet East Deputy County Commissioner Eric Mulevu said an operation team from Tot had been dispatched to the area and was patrolling the border.

Anti-female genital mutilation board chairperson Linah Kilimo asked the Government to recruit more NPRs and equip them to deal with the bandits effectively.

“NPRs are doing a great job protecting the lives of the people in Kerio Valley because they understand the terrain well compared to security agents, who do not hail from such areas. But their welfare is not adequately addressed,” said Mrs Kilimo.

And yet another group of bandits raided Mochongoi ward in Baringo South and torched houses.

One person was injured.