Eight police officers, an area chief and two civilians were yesterday killed in a banditry attack in Turkana East.
According to the National Police Service, the slain police officers were in tight pursuit of Pokot bandits who had raided a village in Turkana East and stole livestock.
“The National Police Service regrets to inform on the criminal and cowardly ambush by cattle rustling bandits on innocent members of the public and police officers,” the National Police Service said in a statement.
NPS stated that they had sent a squadron of officers to contain the already tense situation in the region.
“A local chief, two members of the public and eight police officers succumbed to their injuries. We have dispatched additional officers to reinforce the troops on the ground in beefing up security in the area and pursue the bandits,” the police added.
Ekuru Aukot, Thirdway Alliance Party leader while speaking on the incident, stated that he lost his sister to the bandit attack and asked President William Ruto to put an end to the insecurity plaguing the area.
“I just lost my sister today, together with a chief and several police officers. We will bury them but dear Mr President, kindly fix the insecurity in Turkana East,” Aukot said in his twitter account.
The region has been grappling with insecurity problems which has been so much rampant with gun wielding criminals constantly terrorizing the locals.
The tragic attack comes hours after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made an assurance that the government will put an end to the insecurity menace that has plagued bandit-prone areas like Kerio Valley.
The Deputy President said this on Saturday while addressing mourners at the funeral ceremony of the late Baringo deputy governor.
He further said that he will personally convene a meeting with the leaders from that region to discuss the way forward and find a permanent solution on the existing conflict and security challenge.