By Betty Luke
A-14-year-old boy and a cleric are nursing gunshot wounds at Isiolo Referral Hospital after they were shot by suspected bandits during an attack at Mwangaza in Wabera ward last evening where more than 80 goats were stolen.
The attack that happened around 10pm Tuesday night has spread fear among area residents who said they were fearing for their life and appealed to security organs to beef up security at the area.
Speaking to The Press Point from the hospital bed, Pastor K said he had gone out for a short call when he heard a commotion from his landlord’s goat shed.
On trying to check what was happening at the shade, he was shot on the leg and fell down breaking his two fingers.
“I heard gunshots and while looking around, I was shot on the left leg,” said Mr K.
Writhing in pain, the cleric was rescued by a neighbour, after the attackers had fled, and rushed to the hospital where he is receiving treatment.
The injured boy, who is also receiving treatment at the same hospital, was on the way home from town and in company of a friend when he was shot in the stomach.
The boys had before the incident heard gunshots and seen a group of three men escorting shoats of goats.
“We thought it was police officers scaring people because it was minutes past curfew. My friend (lying here) was running away when the attackers shot him few metres to their home,” the injured boy’s friend told Press Point at the hospital.
The injured boy fell on the ground and crawled to their nearby home before the friend, who immediately hid after the shooting, alerted his family and was rushed to the hospital.
Residents and local leaders have asked police to beef up security so that residents continue with their activities uninterrupted.
Isiolo North MP hopeful Lucy Mworia when she visited the injured cleric at Isiolo Referral Hospital. BETTY LUKE/PRESS POINT
Ms Lucy Mworia, a Gender and Human Right Activist, called for speedy action noting that it was unfortunate that the attack happened during curfew time when locals are expected to be at their homes.
“It is unfortunate that the attack happened few metres from the town where we expect tight security especially during curfew hours when police officers patrol the areas,” Ms Mworia told the press point after visiting the injured pastor and boy at the hospital.
She asked police to expedite probe and ensure the criminals are brought to book and all the goats recovered.
Ex-Wabera MCA Salesio Kiambi appealed to the government to establish a police post at the area to curb further attacks and loss of lives and properties.
“Having a post at the area will ensure 24-hour security for our people and help prevent such attacks,” said Mr Kiambi.
Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi said investigations had been launched and assured that the security team was committed to protecting residents and their properties.
Mr Shambi said 42 goats had been recovered before Wednesday noon saying the suspects drove the goats towards Aremiet area in Burat ward.
“We have leads we are following and we will recover all the goats and bring the culprits to book,” Mr Shambi told journalists at his office in Isiolo town.
The senior adminstrator asked the public to volunteer information to police to assist in making arrests.
“Residents should be cooperate and work with us because security is a collective responsibility,” he noted.
The attack comes barely two weeks after four people were shot dead and others injured in a banditry attack at Kamanga area within the Isiolo-Samburu border.
