Bandits Open Fire On Matatu Full Of Passengers
The matatu was on its way to Lodwar from Eldoret.
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Bandits in Turkana County ambushed a matatu full of passengers, spraying bullets on it along the Kitale-Lodwar road while it was travelling on Friday night, February 3.
One of the passengers was shot in the thigh in the middle of the crossfire during the night attack and was rushed to the Lodwar Referral Hospital for emergency medical attention.
According to witnesses who spoke to the media, the matatu was on its way to Lodwar from Eldoret.
The sophisticated weapons fuelling banditry and cattle rustling. /DAILY NATION
"While I was on the road, I saw young men herding cows and I assumed that it was common but upon approaching, I realised they were carrying guns," the matatu driver stated.
The driver further noted that the young men shot at the matatu, injuring one passenger. After the night ambush, residents and other stakeholders urged the government to intervene and repel the rogue bandits.
In addition, the government was urged to increase security measures along the Kainuk-Kangkong highway amidst an increase in cases of bandits targeting road users.
The attack comes after Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome's convoy was on Friday, January 20 caught up in a shootout between cattle rustlers and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers in Marsabit County.
The CS was in the county to inspect a water and sewerage system project and had wrapped up inspecting the construction of Bakuli Dam near Marsabit Forest when her convoy encountered the gunfire.
The bandits, according to a report by the Nation, had killed an elderly herder at the Marsabit Catholic Shrine area in Saku sub-county before driving away an unknown number of cattle and goats.
They were fleeing into Marsabit Forest when they encountered the KWS officers, leading to a shootout which injured one of the bandits, who escaped with gunshot wounds.
CS Wahome was evacuated safely from the scene and later proceeded with her journey to Marsabit Police Station where she took a flight.
"Inspection of Marsabit Water Supply Project and Marsabit Water Supply - Water Treatment Plant, Bakuli Dam. I am safe and now on my last visit to Othaya," she tweeted.
On December 15, 2022, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua opened up on a plan by President William Ruto's government to replace police officers with officers from the National Youth Service (NYS) in protecting key establishments as the officers are deployed to areas across the country affected by banditry and crime.
If the plans by President Ruto are successful, the police officers would complement chiefs and assistant chiefs in areas affected by banditry following an announcement by Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki that they will be furnished with firearms.
CS Alice Wahome at the Marsabit Water Supply Project addressing the media on January 20, 2023. /TWITTER.ALICE WAHOME
