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Two GSU officers shot in Laikipia as new regional police boss is named

Officers attacked in Loisaba Ranch as they changed a tyre of their vehicle.

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by CYRUS OMBATI

News26 July 2021 - 06:58
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In Summary


  • The officers were part of a team operating in the area when they were attacked in Loisaba ranch as they changed a tyre of their vehicle.
  • This came as Trans Nzoia County police commander Fredrick Ochieng was promoted and named the new Rift Valley Regional Police Commander.
Two General Service Unit (GSU) officers were at the weekend shot and wounded in an ambush by gunmen at a ranch in Laikipia County.

Two General Service Unit (GSU) officers were at the weekend shot and wounded in an ambush by gunmen at a ranch in Laikipia County.

The officers were part of a team operating in the area when they were attacked in Loisaba Ranch as they changed a tyre of their vehicle.

Police said their attackers escaped to an unknown destination as the other colleagues fought back.

The injured officers were rushed to a local hospital after the Saturday evening ambush.

According to officials, the officers were injured in the abdomen and were admitted in a stable condition.

The team is in the area to address the emerging trend of banditry and cattle rustling, which is now threatening security that has been experienced in the area in the past years.

More than 10 people have been killed in attacks in neighbouring counties of Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and Samburu in cases of attacks related to cattle rustling.

Officials said more security personnel had been sent to the area to pursue the attackers who are also heavily armed.

This came as Trans Nzoia County police commander Fredrick Ochieng was promoted and named the new Rift Valley Regional Police Commander.

This is aimed at boosting operations in the area ahead of the 2022 polls when the rate of crime including cattle rustling is expected to increase.

Ochieng has served in Tana River and other operational areas. The transfer follows the retirement of Mercus Ocholla.

Dozens of other junior officers in the region were transferred for various reasons including overstaying and disciplinary.

Last week, police authorities also named Manase Musyoka, formerly the Migori County commander as the new Coast Regional Police Commander replacing Paul Ndambuki who had been posted in Mombasa in April.

Ndambuki was moved to police headquarters, Nairobi for redeployment.

In Nairobi, Buruburu sub county commander Adamson Bungei was moved to Central in the same capacity to replace John Nyamu who moved to Embakasi. Embakasi’s Francis Ngugi replaced Bungei in Buruburu.

The service has regional commanders serving in the former eight provinces. They include Augustine Nthumbi (Nairobi), Ochieng (Rift Valley), Peris Muthoni (Western), Titus Karuri (Central), Karanja Muiruri (Nyanza), Rono Bunei (North Eastern), Noah Mwivanda (Eastern) and Musyoka (Coast).

At the headquarters, the service has various departments which enhances their operations.

They include operations, logistics, gender, inspections, complaints, personnel, planning and community policing.

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