Injured AP officer airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment

An Administration Police officer who was injured on Sunday night when heavily armed gunmen attacked Chwele market has been airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.

The officer escaped death by a whisker after the police vehicle he was driving was sprayed with bullets while responding to a distress call in the market.

County Commissioner Mohamed Maalim said the officers on patrol heard gun shots and rushed to the scene before they were ambushed by the robbers.

He was briefly treated at Bungoma County Referral Hospital before the doctors referred him to Nairobi.

“The armed criminals ambushed our officers when they arrived at the scene and sprayed their vehicle with bullets. During the incident, the officer was shot in the legs and the right shoulder,” said Mr Maalim.

The region has been rocked by frequent robberies, with perpetrators targeting traders at Chwele market whom they suspect of keeping money in houses.

Maalim said the traders dismissed police advice to save their money in banks, or use the police armoury in Chwele for safe custody.

“We don’t encourage the keeping of money in houses. In the past, this has attracted criminals who attack at night without warning,” said the commissioner.

“We urge them to keep their money in our police armoury, as we engage banks to open branches at the market.”

Maalim said intelligence reports indicate the firearms being used to carry out the attacks are from Mt Elgon, and are being leased out by remnants of the dreaded Sabaot Land Defence Force.