- Corporal Ahmed Mohamed Sheikh succumbed to a close range shot as he walked home. He was attached to Dukana police post in North Horr.
- Marsabit is classified as a hotspot ahead of the August polls due to inter clan fighting.
Image: THE STAR
A police officer was on Monday evening shot dead by a gang in Marsabit town.
The officer was shot by gunmen who were riding on a motorbike.
Corporal Ahmed Mohamed Sheikh succumbed to a close range shot as he walked home. He was attached to Dukana police post in North Horr.
Marsabit county commissioner Paul Rotich said the attackers escaped soon after fatally wounding the officer.
He said the deceased had arrived home for leave when he was shot and killed.
Rotich said they suspect the officer was targeted but the motive remains unclear.
The body was taken to a local mortuary.
The killing forced business people to close their premises early in fear of more attacks.
The area is volatile especially ahead of a tense political season.
More police officers were on Monday evening deployed in the town to tame any more planned attacks or retaliation.
“We continue to urge any warring group to maintain law and order and remain calm as investigations go on,” said Rotich.
He said they are concerned with the rising cases of crime being committed by gangs operating on motorcycles.
The incident comes a day after another elder was killed on Sunday evening.
The gang behind the killing of Abba Galgalo is yet to be captured amid an ongoing manhunt.
Marsabit is classified as a hotspot ahead of the August polls due to inter clan fighting.
Tens of people have in the past months been killed in what is seen as a political game plan to control local resources.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangí said they are rolling out plans to tame the trend for the sake of stability and unity.
"We have increased surveillance and more deployments to Marsabit, Laikipia, Baringo and Turkana which are now seen as hotspots," he said.