Piece by: MAUREEN KINYANJUI

25 September 2022

• On March 18, two people including a Spanish national were injured when armed bandits waylaid a passenger vehicle along the Kitale-Lodwar highway.

• Despite heavy security presence in the area, Turkana County has suffered a spate of deadly attacks from bandits in recent years which resulted in the loss of lives and injuries.

Ekuru Aukot, the Thirdway Alliance Party Leader Ekuru Aukot is mourning the death of his sister.

His sister Mary Kanyaman was among the 11 people who died after bandits raided a village in Turkana East, Turkana County, on Saturday.

While announcing her death on Saturday evening, Aukot called on President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua to address the security issues in Turkana East terming it as a 'domestic terrorism.'

“We have also lost the area chief and 5 other police officers. We will Bury them, but fix the insecurity issue in Turkana East,” he said.

“I have said it before, we don't need our soldiers in Somalia. We need them home to deal with domestic terrorism. I just lost my sister because of domestic terrorism from the Pokot bandits. I hope (Dr. Ruto) and (Mr. Gachagua) will deal with this issue,” Aukot added.

The early morning attack is said to have taken place at Namariat near Kakitetei and the casualties included 8 police officers, a local chief and two civilians.

National Police Service spokesperson Bruno Shioso said the officers were pursuing bandits believed to be from the Pokot community, who had earlier raided a village and stolen livestock.

“The officers were in hot pursuit of Pokot bandits who had raided a village in Turkana East and made away with livestock. A local chief, two (2) members of the public and eight (8) police officers succumbed to the injuries,” he said.

Despite heavy security presence in the area, Turkana County has suffered a spate of deadly attacks from bandits in recent years which resulted in the loss of lives and injuries.

On March 18, two people including a Spanish national were injured when armed bandits waylaid a passenger vehicle along the Kitale-Lodwar highway.