• The passenger was shot in the thigh during the incident, police and witnesses said.
• The vehicle was traveling from Eldoret on the Kitale-Lodwar road when the incident happened at about 7pm.
Armed bandits opened fire on a matatu full of passengers on Friday night in Kainuk Turkana county leaving one with gunshot wounds.
The passenger was shot in the thigh during the incident, police and witnesses said.
He was rushed to the Lodwar Referral Hospital for emergency medical attention.
The vehicle was traveling from Eldoret on the Kitale-Lodwar road when the incident happened at about 7pm.
"While I was on the road, I saw young men herding cattle and I assumed that it was common but upon approaching, I realised they were carrying guns," the matatu driver said.
The gunmen flagged down the vehicle but when the driver declined to stop, they opened fire.
The attackers intended to rob the passengers of their valuables.
The driver proceeded with the trip and delivered the passenger to the nearby hospital.
“They usually demand cash and water if you stop. They at times can be bad,” said another driver.
Such attacks are common on the route. The gang is composed of armed men who are normally herding animals.
Rift Valley police boss Tom Odera said they have deployed teams there to pursue the gang.
The team of multi agency officers has drawn a roadmap to guide them.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has vowed to deal ruthlessly with bandits in hot spot areas.
He said the government will use its manpower to guarantee the safety of residents.
The CS declared banditry a threat to national security and vowed to flush them out of their hideouts.
"The Government will use force to flush out armed and dangerous bandits and bring permanent peace and security in this area and other affected parts of our Country," he affirmed.
However, three days after the declaration, bandits attacked a school and injured two pupils in broad daylight in Samburu county.