Killer bandits escape police trap, leave rifle

By Hassan Huka

Samburu County

Bandits who allegedly killed a British metropolitan police officer in northern Kenya on Sunday escaped an ambush laid by security personnel.

They abandoned an AK 47 rifle as they fled into the thickets when they spotted the officers approaching them.The officers are still pursuing the gang operating along the Isiolo-Moyale highway.

Administrative officials and security sources said more police officers have been deployed to hunt down the bandits suspected to have killed the officer, Mr Jamal Moghe, near Sereolipi trading centre in Samburu County.

“It was a close shave, but unfortunately they escaped, dropped an AK47 gun, which we believe was used in killing the British policeman,” said Samburu East DC Hussein Alasow.

He said they have made progress in the operation, which has incorporated game rangers from community conservancies.

He also said they have got names of the attackers from community elders.

“So far the police, game rangers and local chiefs have a lead. They have identified the Manyatta where the attackers hail from and got their names,” he said.

And detectives from Britain have joined their Kenyan counterparts to unravel the killing.

Winding up

The two teams will be working independently, but will share their findings after winding up the investigations in a week’s time.

“A team of detectives from Britain and our security personnel are in action in Samburu East District but they will be working separately,” said a security officer at Archer’s Post.

Mr Moghe was the only passenger killed by the bandits on Sunday when they stopped the lorry he was travelling in near Sereolipi trading centre.

Moghe was travelling to Marsabit, aboard a truck transporting hardware goods from Nairobi, to visit his relatives.

Security officers are still investigating the motive of his killing.

On Saturday, a day before Moghe was killed, bandits fired at immediate former Saku MP Mr Hussein Sasura’s vehicle at the same spot, but he escaped unhurt.

Highway attacks, which were expected to end after tarmacking of the road, have persisted and security apparatus in the county has been ordered to step up operations in order to capture thugs.