Four police officers who were shot by bandits at Laikipia Nature Conservancy on Friday night are still in hospital.
The four security officers attached to the conservancy were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds. The bandits have been hiding in the vast conservancy and are believed to be behind a series of livestock thefts within the neighbouring villages.
During the 10pm attack, one of the officers was shot in the cheek near his left eye, two others escaped with leg injuries, while the fourth officer sustained chest injuries.
Three of them are now recuperating at the Sipili Nursing Home. One was referred to another hospital for specialised care.
Bernard Kinyua, a Sipili clinical officer, recounted how they were called in to help rescue the patients and upon arrival at the Nursing Home, they managed to contain their bleeding.
Efforts to get a comment from area police commander Maxwell Nyaema yesterday did not bear fruit as he did not respond to phone calls.
Laikipia county commissioner Daniel Nyameti, however, told the Star he did not know whether the officers were still hospitalised.
“I have not enquired whether they have been discharged or not. Also, I have not been updated on their state. Security officers have not arrested the bandit but they are pursuing them,” Nyameti said.
Two weeks ago, another officer was shot and killed by suspected bandits within the same ranch as cases of insecurity continue to be reported in areas such as Kamwenje, Wangwachi, Kieni, Matuiku. Rustlers have been raiding the villages and fleeing with animals, which they hide inside the conservancy.
The bandits are said to be heavily armed and are also reported to be targeting uniformed officers.
