Bandits kill reservist and injure driver in ambush

A police reservist was shot dead and a driver seriously injured on Wednesday when their car was attacked by bandits.

The vehicle had four reservists who were among 50 people recruited by the county government to provide security at the construction site of a Sh70 million eco-tourism lodge. The 40-bed capacity lodge is in Southern Turkana National Reserve.

Kainuk Assistant Chief Sarah Lotodo said the vehicle was heading to Kainuk Town.

“The gunfire attracted other reservists who rushed to the scene to rescue their colleagues,” she said.

The driver was taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital while the body of the other man — identified as Abraham Lopetet — was handed to his family.

Less than an hour later, the bandits attacked herders at a field a few kilometres away but were repulsed by AP officers and reservists.

“They recovered all the animals before the bandits could cross River Turkwel into Pokot villages,” she said.