SAMBURU,Kenya, Nov, 4 – A tragic gun battle pitting herders and Suspected bandits saw 14 people killed on Wednesday night in Suyan area of Samburu county.
According to preliminary reports, the fierce gun battle lasted for close to 15 hours with both bandits and herders firing indiscriminately at each other.
Police officers deployed to the volatile Samburu North area also joined in the battle in a bid to restore sanity.
In total 14 people are said to have died among them five local herders and nine bandits.
Several other residents are said to have been injured and later rushed to Maralal Referral Hospital.
Police also revealed that scores of bandits sustained bullet wounds before fleeing into the Baragoi area.
During the raid close to 1,000 cattle are said to have been stolen at the time. Hundreds have however so far been recovered.
“We have sent reinforcements to pursue the attackers who have driven some of the animals towards Baragoi. We have casualties so far and include six of the attackers but we will get more soon,” said Samburu County Commissioner, Abdirizak Jaldesa.
Areas leaders have since condemned the attack condoling with the family of the deceased calling on police to enhance security in the area.
The area has in recent weeks been plagued by several cases of insecurity.
In the neighbouring Laikipia county, the government commissioned a multi agency security operation after bandits killed scores of people including police in the areas surrounding the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.
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