Raiders shoot and injure police officer in Loruk, Baringo County

Police at the scene where several houses were torched by unknown assailants in Loruk. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/STANDARD]

Baringo, Kenya: A police officer was shot and seriously injured Monday night by armed raiders in the troubled Loruk border point.

Baringo County Senator Gideon Moi has demanded for urgent response from the government.

The officer was shot at the waist as they battled out with armed attackers and was rushed to Marigat Sub-District Hospital for treatment.

The county security team said they had received intelligence report on an impending retaliatory attack and decided to secure the shopping centre, leading to the long night clash.

Gideon described insecurity in Baringo as wanting and asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto to rise up to the occasion and end insecurity in the county and other parts of the country.

He said daily reports of people killed and thousands uprooted from their homes was heart-breaking, adding that political leaders from North Rift region have played their part and the ball was on the government's side.
While appealing for calm and tolerance among the warring communities, he reiterated that it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens and their properties.

"The security of this country squarely rests in the central government. Children staying out of schools and women cooking in the bush must end forthwith', posed the senator.

Following the conflicts, hundreds of security officers were dispatched to the small town situated along the Marigat- Chemolingot road to try and contain the situation.

Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo on Tuesday led a high-powered security delegation to the affected area to try and bring the warring sides together and end hostilities.

Also in attendance was Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi.

Loruk location retired chief Wilson Chepungei was on Sunday morning waylaid and killed by four people armed with AK 47 riffles, at a grazing field near the border as he left for Loruk AIC church.

"His killers waylaid him on his way to church where he was shot at three times and a bible stolen from him. It has been difficult to establish the motive behind the murder and we ask the government to investigate the matter," said Charles Cheruiyot, a resident.

On the same night, unknown assailants descended on Loruk Trading Centre and set ablaze business premises and residential houses.