Police probe mysterious ‘white helicopter’ linked to Baringo banditry attacks 

Police is investigating claims of a mysterious ‘white chopper’ that is always spotted in areas of Baringo county mostly affected by banditry attacks. 

During a peace meeting in Mochongoi in Baringo South yesterday, residents expressed fear that the chopper was allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to the bandits who have been terrorising them for years now, with attacks having spiked in the recent past. 

Residents alleged that a number of powerful individuals supply ammunition to the bandits. 

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Mohamed Maalim confirmed that such claims had also arisen during an earlier county security team meeting. 

Addressing the residents, Maalim noted that the government was looking into the matter. 

“You have said a helicopter suspected to be bringing a consignment of ammunition to the bandits disguising as herders has been seen hovering over the notorious Korkoron Hills.

The issue was also mentioned during our meeting with the county security team and I want to assure the locals that the matter is already under investigation,” he noted. 

He also unveiled a cohort of newly commissioned police reservists who will supplement security officers stationed in trouble spots. 

Former police reservist, Eric Kibet, added that the government should be answerable to the business dealings of the mysterious chopper. 

“For one to fly a helicopter or any other aircraft, one must get a license from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).

We need to be told who owns it and what business it engages in. If it is the one supplying ammunition to bandits, it must be shot down,” Kibet stated amidst cheers from the locals. 

He pointed out that the chopper was first spotted in early January, weeks after bandits had attacked the region. 

“At first, we thought it belonged to the police and was carrying out aerial surveys. To our surprise, security officers deployed here denied that it was theirs.” 

The residents are now demanding that the government makes public the registration number and ownership details of the helicopter, as well as its purpose of flying over Baringo. 

This comes after more than seven people were killed early this month after Maalim urged the bandits to surrender their illegal firearms. 

For months, tens of lives have been lost as bandits run the show in the troubled area, and government efforts to contain the situation not bearing much fruit. 

Hundreds of people have also been displaced with learning in some school badly disrupted.