Forest Service officer shoots dead suspected illegal logger

One person has died and another is nursing serious injuries at Iten Referral Hospital after being shot by a forest ranger at Kessup Forest, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Sammy Kimutai, 32, was shot after failing to submit a permit of approval to transport timber from the forest to the patrol officers.

According to Steven Chessah, the regional officer, the deceased who was believed to be an administrative officer from Eldoret was involved in a battle with the officers and tried to acquire a weapon from one of them, and was shot in the process.

Angry residents blocked the Iten-Eldoret road and torched a forest ranger camp at Kipkaren to protest the killing.

At the same time County Police Commander Sheri Hussein Abdallah condemned the incident saying the death was unnecessary.

“One should not resist arrest but wait to face the justice of the law,” he added.

Abdallah requested the residents to conserve the forests and involve the police instead of taking the law into their own hands.