LAIKIPIA, Kenya, Sept 23 – A 64-year-old man identified as Charles Maina was Wednesday shot dead by suspected bandits at the Corner Mawe section in Ol Moran ward, amidst a multi-agency security operation in the area.
The area has been designated by the government as a disturbed and security operation zone after at least 13 people including security officers were killed by suspected bandits.
The deceased according to preliminary reports, was shot dead about 500 meters from where a multi-agency security team is digging a trench along the Conservancy road from Wangwachi to Kamwenje.
The bandits are said to have descended on Maina from the Laikipia Nature Conservancy while he was grazing his livestock. He is said to have been shot multiple times on the head and chest.
“The bandits later drove away 30 herds of cattle towards the Laikipia Nature Conservancy,” said a witness.
A survivor of the attack Samuel Ruchuiri told Shahidi News that he managed to escape the bandits during the incident that occurred at around 3 pm.
“KDF officers are digging a trench in the area. They had earlier assured us that we were safe while grazing our animals. How then did they manage to cross the conservancy fence and attack us?” posed Ruchuiri.
The body of the deceased was taken to Sipili Funeral home for preservation.
The government had announced that the trench would serve as a barrier for the livestock migrating from the conservancy in search of water and pasture into nearby farmlands destroying crops in the process.
A multi-agency security team consisting of KDF, General Service Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit, and the Kenya Forest Service wardens have been deployed in the volatile conservancy which is located in Laikipia West.
Ol Moran Ward MCA, George Karuiru condemned the recent killing, while expressing frustration with government agencies who had initially guaranteed residents of their safety.
“How is it that there is an ongoing operation at the conservancy yet bandits come from their hideouts and drive away residents’ livestock through the same conservancy?” he asked.
Residents now fear that despite relative calm being witnessed since the operation kicked off, the bandits may be planning another attack.
Relative calm has been witnessed in recent days with schools that had been closed even being reopened.
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