NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 26 – Armed bandits struck a village in Isiolo and killed seven people, including two police reservists on Sunday night.
Police said hundreds of cattle were also stolen during the raid that left five people seriously wounded.
A police officer in the region told Capital News beat that the killings occurred during a confrontation between police reservists and rustlers who raided Manyattas to steal cattle.
“Seven people have been killed, we have several others wounded in the attack,” a police officer in the region said.
The two police reservists were shot dead in an exchange of fire as they tried to block the bandits from stealing the cows, police said.
Police said those wounded were being treated at the Isiolo district hospital while some had been discharged.
A major security operation was underway on Tuesday in search of the bandits thought to have fled to the neighbouring district of Samburu.
“We are working closely with elders in the region where we believe the cattle were taken to. They should be recovered as soon as possible but no arrest has been made so far,” the police officer speaking on condition of anonymity said. He said the raid occurred at midnight.
Area Member of Parliament Mohammed Kuti condemned the attack and urged the police to expedite investigations into the killings.
Kuti also wants police to guarantee security for his people, saying there is laxity from the law enforcers in protecting citizens of that region.
Armed crime and killings are common in Isiolo and the surrounding areas where atleast two cattle rustling related incidents occur every week, according to statistics available at Police Headquarters.
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