There was a security scare at Kapindasum village in Baringo South sub-county after armed bandits attacked a convoy of General Service Unit officers on patrol.

Witnesses reported the fierce afternoon gun battle lasted more than two hours.
According to Arabal location chief William Koech, the daring bandits had surrounded Kapindasum Primary School and the local GSU camp.

“Gun fire is still ongoing. Tension is high here. We hope the security personnel will manage to repulse the raiders,” Koech told People Daily on phone.

The incident comes days after a National Police Reservist (NPR) was shot dead in Kiserian village in Baringo South while another sustained gunshot injuries when they were ambushed by armed bandits from a neighbouring community.

In another attack, Christopher Kipsang,27 was shot dead at Cherelyo in Baringo North while herding livestock with his colleagues when they came under an ambush. The incident comes barely a week after armed bandits fired shots into Kapindasum Primary School sending panic into a panic.

The school is among those which had been closed for many years but was reopened in January following orders by President William Ruto.

Elijah Kiptoon, the school’s headteacher said learners were on their lunch break when gunshots were heard everyone to scamper for safety.

The bandits ate believed to among hundreds of herders who have invaded into the area is disguise of search of pasture and water for their livestock.

Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren yesterday hit out at security personnel in the region for not giving the right information to the National government on the prevailing security situation in the porous region.

“You are misleading the government. How can you say all is well when we hear of gunshots everyday?. For how long will we continue losing our people for action to be taken?” wondered Kamuren.

He claimed illegal herders have invaded Kapindasum, Kaptilomwo, Ng’elecha and Tandari Valley which has sparked tension in the area.

Early this year, the government termed six banditry-prone counties in the North Rift among them Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu as ‘disturbed’ and ‘dangerous’ following the killing of at least 100 civilians and 16 police officers by armed bandits and rolled out the security operation conducted by the National Police Service with the help of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Locals have wondered bandits still wreak havoc in the area despite the ongoing security operation.
The incident comes amidst the ongoing security operation in the North Rift that is targeting bandits that have been the cause of insecurity in the region over the years.

KDF and the police began their operation in February this year. However, sporadic attacks have been witnessed during the operation.