We thank God all our officers ambushed by bandits are safe, the Baringo county IEBC boss has said.
Armed bandits ambushed and disrupted voting at Chemoe Primary School in Bartabwa, Baringo North, on Tuesday.
County returning officer John Mwangi said following the gunfire attack, voting was suspended for about two hours from 12pm.
He said their target seemed to be livestock in the community "not us, but of course, the gunshots scared everybody at the scene.
"Our election officials are safe and we have been assured that security was reinforced by the county security team,” Mwangi said on Wednesday.
Chemoe resident Richard Chepchomei said at least 10 people have been killed and thousands displaced by bandits since last December.
He said more than 100 voters at Chemoe and Barsuswo polling stations were scared and ran away.
"We are not satisfied at all. If possible, we are requesting the government beefs up security and allows those of us who ran away to vote, " Chepchomei said.
He said out of 118 voters in Chemoe, only 60 voted while of 62 voters of Barsuswo, only 22 voted.
Chepchomei even some of the agents had help the security officers recover more than 200 stolen livestock.
"This is actually what our people on the ground have been going through for many years. Life is really becoming hard with these heartless bandits," Chepchomei said.
Mwangi, however, denied repeat of the election in the two stations, saying after the tension dissipated the time was extended to allow residents to vote.
"I know, of course, some people were left out because they got scared and were not able to turn up again but at least some few voted, " he said.
Mwangi thanked security officers for taking swift action to repulse the bandits, saying the situation could have been worse if bandits had actually entered the polling station.
Baringo North OCPD Fredrick Odinga said police officers pursued the bandits and recovered almost all of the stolen livestock.
“Officers managed to corner the bandits though some goats were killed in the process of recovery. The situation has been contained and later the voting proceeded well," he said.
County police commander Adamson Bungei said they had increased security in the area.
(Edited by V. Graham)
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”
