Officer to recount Suguta Valley massacre in court

A police officer who survived the Suguta Valley massacre in Baragoi three years ago will on Tuesday testify at the Nakuru High Court.
The police officer is the fourth witness to testify in the murder case in relation to the killing of over 40 police officers. The case is set for hearing today (Monday) and tomorrow (Wednesday).
Seven persons, five of them local leaders including a ward representative, are charged for the murder where 501 heads of cattle were also allegedly stolen and driven towards Nachola location near the dreaded Suguta Valley.
During the previous hearing before Justice Maureen Odero, a former councilor and owner of the cattle stolen prior to the massacre was the first prosecution witness.
Samuel Letipilia took the stand in July and narrated how the theft of his livestock led to a three day search of the livestock involving police both on the ground and air surveillance.
Letipilia said his livestock were stolen on October 20 and were driven towards Nachola area.
Only 36 of them were recovered with the assistance of the local leaders who include the accused in the murder case, after three days of negotiations involving the leaders from the Turkana and Samburu, according to him.
He said at around 6 pm the next day a contingent of joint police service units accompanied by area local chiefs while tracking the livestock were repulsed by armed bandits.
The second day on (October 21), according to him, the police braved another attempt to recover the livestock after bandits advanced them towards Suguta Valley in Lomerok area, about 30 kilomtres from Baragoi, but were again repulsed in a gun fight which lasted for four hours.
Attempts by police to recover Letipilia's livestock on November 10, 2012 led to officers’ massacre. None of the three witnesses' testimonies linked the accused to the murder; in fact all of them said they tracked the bandits with their assistance.
The accused are Nachola Ward MCA Lawrence Lorunyei, Christopher Lokarach, Amojong Lothuro Sammy, Jeremiah Ekurao, Loomwa Looyen and conservancy rangers Ekai Loyee and Ewoi Losike were charged with 12 murders which they have denied.