'Notorious' bandits ambush matatu along Eldoret-Lodwar Highway

As government sets up plans to mitigate the security situation in Turkana, bandits launched a fresh attack on Friday by ambushing a matatu along the Kitale-Lodwar Road, shooting at passengers.

Kipsang, the 'TurkRift Shuttle' driver, says they were ambushed at night along the Kangkong-Kainuk Road while traveling to Lodwar from Eldoret.

"I saw young men herding cows at a distance and did not suspect anything wrong because that is common along this road. However, when we approached them I noticed they had guns and they immediately started shooting at us," Kipsang narrates.

One of the passengers who got shot in the thigh was rushed to Lodwar County Referral Hospital.

Following the attack, locals urged the government to tighten security along the Lodwar-Eldoret Road especially during the coming week when Form One students will be reporting to school.

This comes a week after Interior Cabinet Secretary(CS) Kithure Kindiki toured Turkana to assess the security situation.

According to him, prevailing peace will allow for the expansion of the Kitale-Lodwar-Kakuma-Lokichogio-Nadapal road to Nakodoe and onward to Juba, South Sudan.

Kindiki promised launch of an Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) Camp as well as increased support to the General Service Unit (GSU) and National Police Reservists (NPR) in the area.

On Saturday, Pokot South MP David Pkosing criticised CS Kindiki, telling him to quit for failing to restore order in Turkana.

"Kama umeshindwa na mambo ya security ambia Rais Ruto akutoe akupeleke Agriculture. (If you cant handle security matters tell President Ruto to transfer you to the agriculture docket)," MP Pkosing added.