An eight-year-old nursery school pupil was yesterday shot dead by armed cattle rustlers in Kases village on the volatile Pokot-Turkana border.

Ombolion councillor Josiah Yarakwang said about 20 cattle rustlers who were armed with AK-47 rifles shot the boy as he was herding cattle. "The raiders ambushed the boys who were herding their livestock. They shot the young boy who was attempting to raise the alarm after he spotted them advancing to where the animals were grazing," Yarakwang said.

He said the bandits, whom he believes are from the neighbouring Nakwomoru location in Turkana South, made away with 150 goats and sheep belonging to four villagers.

The councillor said 10 other boys who were herding with the deceased escaped and hid in caves in Kases Forest. Villagers rescued them after a five hour search in the forest. Information and Communication minister Samwel Poghisio asked the police to track and arrest the culprits speedily.