Kapedo pounded with bombs as hunt for cop killers continues

Kenya Defence Forces yesterday continued to pound parts of Tiaty Constituency with bombs, sending panic among residents who are fleeing the area in their hundreds.

For the better part of the day, explosives rocked Kapau, Chemartas, Napur and Chepelow villages in Akoret Division in a bid to flush out suspected bandits who massacred a platoon of Administration Police officers a week ago.

Fleeing residents told The Standard on Sunday of rocks rolling down the hills.

“It is serious though there are no casualties so far. Rocks are rolling down the hills where the bombs have exploded, spreading panic all over the area,” said a village elder. “It seems the officers have gone full out and are targeting hills and forests.”

The Standard on Sunday has also learnt that among the KDF officers are a team of Special Forces and Rangers. These are elite units who have state-of-the-art technology, including night vision and hi-tech communication detection devices and aircraft and weapons systems.

A military source said the tank battalion from Gilgil and ground forces from Eldoret and Kenya Army’s 50-Air Cavalry Division based in Embakasi are on the ground, hunting down the police killers.

“It is a combination of a specialised team. They are the same team that was deployed to the Coast to neutralise the Al Shabaab. This tells you how serious this operation is,” said the source.

Yesterday’s ground offensive followed Thursday’s night operation, where dozens of people were arrested as the officers moved to trading centres in the vast region, questioning and arresting suspects.

More than 15 people were allegedly arrested in Chemolingot and another nine at Tangulbei. Their whereabouts, however, remain a mystery as government officials refused to comment on the arrests.

Several schools have been closed ahead of schedule because of the operation.