Former presidential aspirant and Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot has revealed his sister was among 11 people who were killed on Saturday, September 24, 2022 following a bandit attack in Turkana county by Pokot rustlers.
The other 10, he says, include eight police officers, a civilian and the local chief.
The attack in the early morning hours took place at Namariat near Kakitetei.
Taking to Twitter Aukot noted that his sister left behind young children and called on the president to address the issue.
“Dear President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, I just lost my sister Mary Kanyaman, a mother to little kids, to Pokot bandits in Napeitom. We have also lost the area chief and 5 other police officers. We will bury them, but fix the insecurity issue in Turkana East,” Ekuru Aukot tweeted.
PHOTO/Twitter
Adding;
“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.”
Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson Bruno Shioso said the slain officers were pursuing the rustlers who were heavily armed.
“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 officers were in hot pursuit of Pokot bandits who had raided a village in Turkana East and made away with livestock,” the Police spokesperson said.
Shioso noted that the government had dispatched more officers to the area.
“NPS reassures the public that all necessary measures shall be taken to restore security and safety in the region,” he stated.
