Baringo politicians killed, vehicles destroyed in night club gun attack

Baringo politicians killed, vehicles destroyed in night club gun attack

Two politicians from the volatile Baringo region have been shot dead.

The two, a Tiaty Constituency Parliamentary aspirant Pepee Kitambaa and Loyamorok Member of the County Assembly (MCA), Kibet Cheretei, were shot dead at 3:00 am Saturday, February 18.

Mr Kitambaa, who is eyeing the Parliamentary seat currently held by Asman Kamama on a Jubilee Party ticket, and Mr Cheretei, were gunned down at a night club in the town of Marigat.

Mr Kitambaa and Mr Kibet who were killed by gunmen in Marigat, Baringo on Saturday, February 18.
Mr Kitambaa (Right) and Mr Kibet (left) who were killed by gunmen in Marigat, Baringo on Saturday, February 18.

Mr Kitambaa was set to face off with Kamama in the Jubilee nominations later in April.

Baringo Police Commander, Peter Ndung’u, said the two, who were in the company of five other people, were gunned down while entertaining themselves.

The vehicles belonging to the politicians were also destroyed during the attack with that of the MCA being set ablaze while that of Mr Kitambaa was vandalized.

Mr Ndung’u, the police boss, said that the two killers who attacked and murdered the politicians had concealed their identities by way of masking themselves and were armed with machetes and an AK47 assault rifle.

Mr Kibet's car that was torched by armed assailants on Saturday, February 18.
Mr Kibet’s car that was torched by armed assailants on Saturday, February 18.

“Reports indicate that the armed killers, who were hooded, appeared from the main road and they targeted the two politicians,” said the police boss.

He said that investigations have since started but they cannot rule out politics and retaliatory attacks in the murder.

Mr Ndung’u appealed to the locals to provide any information that may help police in their investigations urging them to remain calm.

The Marigat night club where Mr Kitambaa and Mr Kibet were killed by armed assailants on Saturday, February 18, 2017.
The Marigat night club where Mr Kitambaa and Mr Kibet were killed by armed assailants on Saturday, February 18, 2017.

“I am also appealing to the locals to remain calm as police officers have been deployed to the area and patrols have also been intensified,” said Mr Ndung’u.

Tension remains high in the area as locals point accusing fingers to political rivalries in the region for the murder.

Cases of insecurity have been on the rise in Baringo with constant banditry and retaliatory attacks being reported.

Police have, however, heightened operations in a move to weed out elements that threaten the peace and stability of the residents.

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