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Ekuru Aukot loses sister to bandit attack

Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot addresses the media at the party's headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi on February 17, 2020. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL

Former presidential candidate Eukuro Aukot has lost his sister in a banditry attack that took place in Turkana East.

In the attack, eight police officers, a local chief, and two civilians died as they were in pursuit of suspected bandits who attacked a village and made away with livestock.

The National Police Service (NPS) now says it has deployed officers to the region to deal with the situation as they pursue the suspects.

“I just lost my sister Mary Kanyaman, a mother of little kids to Pokot bandits in Napeitom. We have lost the area chief and five other police officers. We will bury them, but fix the insecurity issue in Turkana East,” Mr Aukot, who unsuccessfully contested for the presidency in 2017, said in a tweet directed at President William Ruto.

NPS termed the attack as criminal saying its officers were determined to nab the suspects.

“The National Police Service regrets informing on the criminal and cowardly ambush by cattle rustling bandits on innocent members of the public and police officers.”

“We have dispatched additional officers to reinforce the troops on the ground in beefing up security in the area and pursue the bandits,” the statement further read.

Both President Dr William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua are on record saying they will deal with the insecurity in the region.

DP Gachagua stressed on Saturday the government was committed to dealing with the insecurity being witnessed in the vast Turkana County.

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