Primary School Pupils Shot Dead, Livestock Stolen in Bandit Attack
In Baringo County on Monday, two primary school pupils fell victim to an ambush, resulting in their tragic demise. The children, who were tending to livestock, were fatally shot by bandits who subsequently fled with the animals, as confirmed by Baringo County police commander Julius Kiragu.
This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks in the region, prompting local residents to urge the government to address the escalating menace, which is negatively impacting various operations.
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According to Kiragu, the perpetrators had been loitering in the area before executing the attack in the evening hours, absconding with an undisclosed number of animals. An extensive police operation is currently underway to apprehend the gang responsible for these attacks, although as of Tuesday morning, no progress has been reported in recovering the stolen livestock.
A week prior to this incident, locals had staged a protest in response to heightened insecurity, demanding immediate action to curb the menace. The protest followed the killing of a visually impaired teacher. This unsettling event occurred just days after five individuals lost their lives in separate bandit attacks across Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Samburu counties.
With the North Rift region witnessing a resurgence of attacks, normal operations have been disrupted, leading to the closure of numerous schools and causing a significant loss of life.
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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has taken charge of operations in the area, expressing a determination to quell the menace. Kindiki emphasized that cattle rustling in Northern Kenya has evolved into an organized criminal enterprise, contributing to fatalities, poverty, and displacement over the years.
“The impacts are severe. It deprives pastoral communities of their economic mainstay and aggravates the conditions of poverty in the rangelands, fueling communal grievances and revenge attacks,” stated Kindiki.
The government has pledged additional resources in the fight against banditry. To dismantle the infrastructure supporting cattle rustlers and their accomplices, Kindiki outlined the government’s commitment to making banditry a costly venture, ensuring the recovery of stolen livestock, and rewarding those who facilitate successful recoveries.
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Primary School Pupils Shot Dead, Livestock Stolen in Bandit Attack
