Omollo maintained that the government was committed to bringing a long-lasting solution to the cases of insecurity in Marsabit County.
Principal Secretary of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo on Wednesday, August 14 met with a section of Marsabit County leaders, a day after a group of unidentified gunmen ambushed a truck along the Kenya-Ethiopian border, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people.
During the meeting, the PS and the leaders expressed concerns with regard to insecurity in the county and agreed that urgent actions must be taken to prevent future attacks.
Omollo also maintained that the government was committed to bringing a long-lasting solution to the cases of insecurity in Marsabit County.
Principal Secretary of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo meets with Marsabit County leaders on August 14, 2024. /RAYMOND OMOLLO
“With elected leaders from Marsabit County, we held a security meeting focused on addressing the rising insecurity concerns and agreed on urgent actions that require interventions by both the County leadership as well as the National Government,” Omollo stated, sharing photos of the meeting on his X account.
“Through engagements with security agencies, elected leaders and the local communities, we are committed to fostering peace and ensuring lasting stability in the area.”
On Tuesday, August 13, armed bandits ambushed a Mitsubishi lorry on the Forolle-Turbi road with 10 passengers onboard, about 25 kilometres from Forolle Police Station.
The assailants, dressed in jungle attire, opened fire without warning and later set the lorry ablaze.
Police reported at the time that six people were fatally burned beyond recognition with only one person being recognised. Those who died included six men and one female.
One of the three survivors suffered gunshot wounds and the other burns. The third survivor was unhurt.
Following the attack, the police revealed that the lorry burst into flames where 80 bags of 100 kg maize, 60 iron sheets, 5 (200 litres) diesel, 3 by 2 timber, and other assorted goods of unknown were destroyed. Detectives who visited the scene also recovered 157 spent cartridges of 7.62 mm by 39 special.
The survivors were taken to Turbi Hospital where they underwent treatment while the bodies of the deceased were moved to Marsabit Mortuary for preservation and post-mortem as efforts to pursue the attackers kicked off.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has since condemned the attack, stating that it waters down the progress made to foster coexistence among the communities in the area.
The commission particularly cited the calmness experienced for the last two years there, with Chairperson Samuel Kobia, pleading with the national government to act swiftly to bring the perpetrators on board.
The commission raised fears that the orchestrators of the heinous attack could have crossed the border before ambushing the vehicle and reigning terror on its occupants.
Police and locals at the scene of the bandit attack that occurred in Marsabit on August 13, 2024. /CITIZEN DIGITAL