- They stabbed constable Edwin Erocho in the neck, face and chest killing him while his female colleague managed to escape into a bush but after being robbed of her rifle.
- They were escorting the papers to Mahero secondary school when they were attacked from behind.
Image: FILE
Detectives are hunting for five suspects they say are on the run after the fatal attack on a police officer in Siaya.
The police officer was stabbed to death and robbed of his rifle and that of a colleague as they escorted examination papers on November 20, 2023.
The police are also extending their investigations to the neighbouring countries and have already reached out to Interpol to assist in apprehending the suspects.
Police hunted down the gang behind the attack and killed two of them on November 22, recovered the two rifles- an AK47 rifle and an MP5- from them in the Hawinga area in an operation.
A multi-agency team was sent to the area after it emerged a terror cell was forming up there.
Seven terror suspects were arrested over the terror claims in an operation by team.
A special team from Nairobi joined those on the ground to investigate the claims of terror cells operating there.
After interrogation of those in custody, police have named five more suspects they say they want for questioning.
“The individuals are part of the gang that attacked and killed a teacher and police officer at Mahero area in Siaya County on 20th November 2023.”
“The individuals escaped the police dragnet at Nina village on 22nd November 2023. The National Police Service is appealing to members of the public to share any information to the nearest police station or through the free hotline number 0800722203 to report anonymously about the presence of the individuals in their localities,” said a notice issued by police.
During the operations, assorted crude weapons including two pangas, one rungu, three knives and several Islamic literature were recovered from the suspects.
The team extended the operations to the Nyandorera area at Udamayi village and managed to arrest one more suspect then recovered several Islamic literature and writings, an Arafat shawl, an Islamic hat, a small military bag, a pair of scissors, one plier, a pair of safety boots, about 200 grams of cannabis sativa seeds, one big spear and one black catapult.
Police have confirmed the attackers of the police were returnees from Somalia and had been operating in the area.
It is not clear what motivated them to stage the attack in the sleepy village.
Detectives have revealed they suspect the area has many returnees who had been radicalized in Somalia.
Most of them are currently posing as hawkers and could strike anytime when instructed.
After killing the officer, the men escaped but abandoned an Arafat shawl they had, police said.
They stabbed constable Edwin Erocho in the neck, face and chest killing him while his female colleague managed to escape into a bush but after being robbed of her rifle.
They were escorting the papers to Mahero secondary school when they were attacked from behind.