Armed cattle rustlers raided a village in Turkana East constituency, Turkakana County, and killed three brothers before making away with over 200 animals.
The victims who were all brothers were ambushed by the rustlers numbering over 50 as they were herding their animals in an incident
which occurred at Lowich village at the banditry prone border of Turkana East and Tiaty constituencies.
Turkana East MP Ali Mohamed, who confirmed the incident that has left thousands of families displaced from their homes, said the bodies of the dead victims were yet to be picked from the scene of the attack.
He has asked the government to quell the rising tension between the two warring communities terming the raid on
his people as provocation coming at a time where peace and tranquility was being enjoyed in the area.
The Turkana and Pokots have been involved in vicious armed conflicts attributed to cattle rustling and disputes over water and pasture for
the last two decades that have resulted in theft of animals, loss of lives and displacement of families.
Mohamed said the scene where the three brothers aged 23, 25 and 29 were shot dead cannot be accessed due to the dilapidated state of the road which has been worsened by the heavy rains that has been pounding the region for the last one week.
“The police officers are unable to collect the three bodies which are still lying in a bush as the road leading to the scene of attack has been rendered impassable due to heavy downpour,” said Mohammed.
He claimed that marauding bandits, believed to be from the neighbouring Tiaty constituency, were taking advantage of the laxity exhibited by the security personnel deployed to restore law and order in the area to carry out raid missions on his people.
“How can the bandits carry out a raid mission in my area in broad day light, kill three people and then drive away with more than 200 animals and yet there is a GSU camp stationed just a few kilometers from the scene of the attack,” posed Mohammed.
Speaking to Mwanabahari.co.ke on phone, the MP castigated the officers for taking too long to pursue the cattle rustlers and recover the stolen animals despite being alerted about the impending attack in advance.
He has called on the government to urgently deploy additional security personnel to supplement the efforts of Kenyan Police reservists along the Turkana East and Tiaty boundary following fresh deadly attacks in the region.
Turkana County Commissioner Muthma Wambua has assured the affected families of their security saying that security personnel have been deployed to comb the scene of attack with a view to recover the stolen animals.
He told victims of the cattle rustling to be patient saying that they were coordinating with their counterparts in Baringo County to ensure all the stolen animals are recovered and returned to their owner.
“We have already deployed a team of anti-stock theft unit officers in the area to coordinate efforts to recover the animals and also transport the three bodies to the morgue,” assured Wambua.