Hassan Huka
15 November 2009
Nairobi — Eleven people were on Sunday killed and five others seriously injured when Samburu raiders attacked a village near Isiolo Town.
Four injured Kenyan police reservists are admitted to Isiolo District Hospital, while two other herders were taken to Meru General Hospital with bullets lodged in their bodies.
However, one later died at the Meru hospital, raising the total of those killed to 11. Isiolo police boss Sammy Koskei said the raiders wanted to steal about 4,000 camels that had settled in the Kisima area after returning to Isiolo from Tigania East, where they had been during the drought.
"Five Kenya police reservists were among those killed and their guns are missing," Mr Koskei said. Mr Mohammed Shariff, an injured reservist, said heavily-armed raiders attacked their village around 5am.
The raiders had driven away more than 300 camels and 73 goats before they were recovered by 20 police reservists after an exchange of fire. Three of the raiders were among those killed after Administration Police officers responded and repulsed them.
Some Cabinet ministers and MPs from northern Kenya on Sunday demanded an immediate end to the killings. They said the raids in Isiolo for the past two years were worsening, with more than 100 people already killed.
"We demand removal of district security committees in Isiolo because they have shown that they cannot contain insecurity," said Dr Mohamed Kuti, the Livestock minister and Isiolo North MP.
Cooperative Development minister Joseph Nyaga said: "It is the government's responsibility to protect the lives of its people." Dujis MP Adan Duale said it was sad that the raid occurred not far from a military camp. According to assistant minister Hassan Abdulrahman, the raid was no longer about pasture, water or boundaries.
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