Five people were killed at Lami Nyeusi in West Pokot county after being ambushed by suspected bandits on Thursday morning.
The gunmen believed to be from Turkana county are said to have crossed the border and ambushed the residents on the Kapenguria-Lodwar highway before driving away 18 goats.
West Pokot County in Commissioner Apollo Okello confirmed the incident, saying the bandits raided the village at around 4:00 am.
Okello said a team of officers has been sent to the neighbouring area of Kainuk to track down the criminals.
“When police officers responded, they found the five had already been gunned down. We are searching for the bandits who went back to Turkana county with the goats,” Okello said.
The attack comes two days after three police officers were injured following a bandit attack in Kalinganyang area, 25 kilometres from Lokori town in Turkana county.
The bandits attacked the officers while on a routine changeover in Turkana East sub-county.
The victims were rushed to Lokori Sub-county Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
West Pokot and Turkana are among several counties in the North Rift region that were recently declared as disturbed zones over the banditry menace.
An operation dubbed “Maliza Uhalifu North Rift” led by the police and officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is ongoing to flush out bandits from the troubled region.
