Nairobi News

NewsWhat's Hot

Four Recce officers attached to Uhuru die in road crash

July 2nd, 2015 2 min read

A presidential security team was on Wednesday airlifted to Loiyangalani and Isiolo after an advance team was involved in an accident on Tuesday afternoon that left four of them dead and five others seriously injured.

Twenty officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) Recce Squad were sent to Isiolo and Marsabit on security surveillance ahead of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to the areas on Thursday.

The President is expected to tour the Lake Turkana wind power project.

VEHICLE TYRE BURST

Kenya Police Spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki on Wednesday said the nine officers were involved in an accident at Archer’s Post at around 3pm after the vehicle’s tyre burst at Sere-Olipi on the Isiolo-Moyale road.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and it rolled several times.

The Kenya Red Cross Samburu Coordinator Mugambi Gitonga told the Nation on phone that three officers died at the Sere-Olipi Dispensary where they had been rushed for treatment, while the fourth died at Wamba Hospital.

“The vehicle had a rear tyre burst before it rolled several times on a stretch said to be a black spot. The injured officers were taken to the Isiolo Airport from where they were airlifted to Nairobi using an Amref aircraft,” said Mr Gitonga.

Ms Mboroki on Wednesday said that the officers were heading to Loiyangalani in Marsabit County ahead of President Kenyatta’s tour.

“The accident did not happen very far from Archers Post junction. I appeal to motorists to be careful when on the road,” she said on phone.

THREAT ASSESSMENT

The advance team conducted threat assessment operations, intelligence gathering and disaster preparedness. They were also to analyse the risk in the area and help develop a security plan.

The bodies of the officers were in the evening airlifted to Nairobi in a police aircraft, and arrived at Wilson Airport at 5.30pm on Tuesday.

Police headquarters identified the officers as Humphrey Muruingi, Hesbon Ng’etich, Gerald Mochama, and Diba Mochama.

The injured were airlifted to Nairobi on an Amref aircraft and arrived at Wilson Airport at 5.26pm. They are currently undergoing treatment at the Moi Forces Memorial Hospital.

They are Sergeant John Kerich, Constable Lawrence Lerit, Constable Zebedee Kumbwa, Constable (mechanic) Stephen Chepkwony, and Constable Collins Omondi.

In total, five officers from the elite squad have died this year. On April 2, Corporal Benard Kipkemoi Tonui was killed during the Garissa University College attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists.

SOURCE: Daily Nation