Bandits stripped police officers in Kainuk, survivor reveals

Security personnel in pursuit of bandits in Pura, Samburu, during an attack on January 31, 2023. [Michael Saitoti, Standard]

Armed bandits stripped police officers in Kainuk, Turkana County, a police officer who survived the attack reveals.

The GSU officer, [name witheld], said that the officers, who included the GSU, the ASTU, and the RDU, revisited the scene on Saturday at 8:30am in Turkana County.

The place of attack is approximately five kilometres from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) camp along the Lodwar-Kitale highway.

He said in the occurrence book (OB) that the armed bandits started firing at them indiscriminately from the bushes.

"While at the scene, armed bandits started firing at them indiscriminately from the bushes from the scene, and the officers managed to recover the bodies of three officers who were missing and had succumbed to their injuries," the OB titled OB 05/11/02/2023 at 10:15 AM said.

According to the OB, Edwin Chepkwony (GSU Turkwel), Emmanuel Kipngeich (GSU Turkwel), and Police Constable (PC) Shadrack Lwambi of Lokichar police station were killed.

Torched police vehicles along the Lodwar-Kitale highway. [Benjamin Imende, Standard]

"PC Brian Bett of GSU Nakuamoru is yet to be traced. They were stripped naked and their arms and uniforms were stolen," the OB read.

The report adds that three Land Cruiser vehicles; GKB 739T (Katilu police station), GK B 147T (ASTU Kainuk), and GKB 599T (GSU Nakuamoru), which were being used by the officers were deflated, and are still at the scene.

"One of the vehicles has been set ablaze and others vandalised. Due to dangers at the scene, the vandalism was not quantified. The officers have retreated to ASTU Kainuk together with the bodies to restrategize. There is an urgent need for air support," a signal sent out by the police added.

"From the scene, the officers managed to recover the bodies of three officers who were missing and had succumbed to their injuries."