LAIKIPIA,Kenya, Oct,30 – Three Police Officers were Wednesday killed by suspected bandits at the volatile Laikipia Nature Conservancy while six others were injured and later airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
The recent attack that now has local residents concerned for their safety occurred amidst a multiagency security operation in the area with the government assuring residents that criminal elements committing atrocities against civilians will be apprehended and peace restored.
Despite an earlier government directive, that illegal firearms be surrendered to police following concerns that the weapons could be used by bandits to kill innocent residents and steal property, it still remains a mystery how weeks since a government backed security operation in the area – Bandits continue to have a constant supply of guns and ammunitions.
Area leaders are now demanding answers from security agencies.
“These bandits are armed and we must dig deeper to see who supplies them…how is it bandits deep inside NLC seem to get weapons and replenish them as well as ammunitions?” posed Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi.
Muriithi while condoling with the families of the slain officers said the government must heighten security even further if the battle is to be won and normalcy restored.
“Our condolences to the family of the fallen officers…..we will work hard to restore security to that conservancy and surrounding areas…..more work has to be done however,” he said.
Back in September, Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya appeared to open a can of worms after stating that bandits are in possession of heavy and sophisticated firearms.
“The guns they are using are M-16, theses guns are normally in the hands of the foreign troops (those doing their training in the nearby area )how they end up in the hands of civilians we do not know. Kenya police are assigned to used AK-47 and G-3 rifles…M-16 is not a police issue firearm…where are they coming from?” said Natembeya.
As horrifying as it sounded, the revelations sent shock waves across the country and even beyond particularly after Natembeya hinted that the firearms at the hands of the bandits might have been stolen or acquired from a contingent of foreign troops in a nearby training base.
The British High Commission in Kenya however refuted claims that the weapons were obtained from the British Army Training Unit in Kenya, simply referred to as BATUK.
“We are certain there are no BATUK weapons circulating in Kenya. We do a 100% daily quantity check, and a 100% weekly check by individual serial number, and none are missing,” read a previous tweet from the British High Commission in Kenya.
The High Commission further revealed that army Units exercising with BATUK do not use M16 rifles.
Several political leaders have since been arrested and later released after being charged with inciting violence in the area.
Security observers meanwhile say deep underlying issues including land injustices might be the cause of the flare-up of skirmishes in Laikipia…they however say the chaos appears to be cyclical, occurring every time the country is about to embark on a national election.
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