• Officials said the bandits surrounded Kapindasum Primary School and the neighbouring GSU camp.
• Officials aware of the incident said a reinforcement had been sent to the area to help push the attackers out of the area.
Image: STAR
There was panic at Kapindasum village in Baringo South subcounty on Tuesday morning after bandits attacked security officers.
The gunmen targeted General Service Unit personnel on a routine patrol, prompting a fierce gun battle for more than two hours.
Officials said the bandits surrounded Kapindasum Primary School and the neighbouring GSU camp.
There was no death reported by the time of going to press but officials fear there may be casualties.
Officials aware of the incident said a reinforcement had been sent to the area to help push the attackers out of the area.
At the time of the incident, GSU Commandant Eliud Lagat was in a meeting with Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya for a tree planting exercise at the Recce Company in Ruiru.
He was briefed of the attack and ordered full response from teams near the area.
Police headquarters said they were handling the matter.
The school is among those preparing for the start of the national exams.
The attack comes barely three weeks after bandits fired shots at Kapindasum Primary School as pupils were going for lunch.
The school reopened this year after being closed since 2019 due to incessant attacks.
There is an ongoing joint operation in the area. Guns and bullets have been recovered during the operation.
Despite the voluntary surrender of firearms that has taken place so far, there are still thousands of guns, ammunitions, and other weapons in the hands of criminals.
The joint Security Operation in the area is led by the National Police Service with the assistance of the Kenya Defence Forces.
Despite a heavy police presence in the marked areas, armed bandits have continued to attack, kill and rob residents before retreating to caves and forests from where they monitor the public and security personnel as they plan further attacks.
President William Ruto has promised to address the cattle rustling menace that has affected parts of the larger North Rift.
This includes plans to equip security agencies to address the chaos and open up the area to developments.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had threatened to reveal the individuals benefitting from the perennial banditry in the North Rift.