Three shot as police try to stop fight

A man, his son and a neighbour were yesterday admitted to hospital with bullet wounds inflicted by a policeman in Kimala Mata village.

The officer fired his gun while trying to quell a family fight on Monday night. Benjamin Longida and his son Sila are admitted at Taveta Sub-County Hospital in critical condition. The neighbour was not named.

Reports show Mr Longida was hit in the right thigh and Sila in the right side of the head. The incident occurred as officers were trying to arrest a man charging at them with a machete.

County Commissioner Oningoi ole Sosion said the police arrived at the victims’ home after an elderly man made a distress call to local administration officers asking to be rescued from his son who had become violent.

“The man was desperate and had to call the police so as to arrest his son who was threatening to kill him,” Mr Sosion said adding that Sila emerged from his father’s house and charged at the officers with a machete.

According to Sosion, in the ensuing scuffle, bullets accidentally discharged from one of the officers’ guns.

“One of the security personnel could have pulled the trigger after the man’s son had turned violent. He also wanted to attack the police officers,” said Sosion who is also the County Security Committee chairman. “The victims are out of danger.”

Ownership Row

Acting County Police Commander Joshua Lutukai and provincial administration officials visited the scene.

Meanwhile, police have launched investigations into an incident in which unknown people raided Kipala Camp Site and destroyed property worth millions of shillings on Monday.

Sosion said the criminals destroyed 86 fencing poles among other property belonging to the Mbulia Group Ranch Conservancy in Voi sub-county, which has recently been hit by controversy over its ownership.

“The investor is planning to put up an electric fence worth over Sh19 million and the Government will not allow a few people to scare away investors,” he warned. “We are following up some crucial leads to arrest four suspects.”

The incident comes after the hotel’s armed security guards thwarted an attempt by arsonists to burn down the multi-million-shilling facility.

Police said a group of about ten people armed with petrol and crude weapons raided the campsite owned by a Germany investor, Richard Coran, but were repulsed by armed rangers.

Mr Coran has signed a 30-year lease with the management of the 43,000 acre ranch to establish the hotel and sanctuary, a move that has been contested by locals.