Two West Pokot students attacked by bandits, nursing gun shot wounds

Two students are nursing gunshot wounds at Moi Teaching Referral Hospital Eldoret (MTRH) after being shot by suspected bandits on Sunday night. The two from Chepkokogh market in Pokot Central sub county were ambushed by criminals and were shot.

Confirming the incident, Pokot Central sub county deputy commissioner Simiyu Were said the two,  Benjamin Riposia 18 years, and Naomi James 16 years while on their way home-Snukur village were accosted by unknown number of armed persons at Tilakai village near Tilakai Primary School who shot and injured them.  The boy is a form two student at St. Christopher secondary school Kitale while the girl is a form one student at Annet mixed secondary school.

He noted that tension has gripped in the area and police officers have been dispatched in the area to calm the situation. “The suspects are being pursued, the resurgence of new cases of banditry and retaliatory attacks is something that should be stopped. Police officers are on patrol to help contain the situation.” He said.

One of the neighbors, Evans Koritany, said on Sunday at around 9pm while everyone was at their homes they heard gun shots renting the air. “We rushed to see what was happening and upon reaching Tilakai we found the two already shot and bleeding excessively. We rushed the two to Annet dispensary but there was no one to attend to the two,” he said.

He noted that they found a watch guard at the dispensary, who helped bandage their wounds.
He said they had to travel to Sigor sub county hospital using a motorbike but doctors weren’t present there too. “We reported the incident at Sigor police station then proceeded to Ortum mission hospital.”

He said that the two have been referred to the MTRH for further treatment, given that doctors aren’t present at the Kapenguria referral hospital. West Pokot County Health CEC Jackson Yaralima said the health workers strike has paralyzed health services in the entire County.

He said that the injured patients can be better handled at MTRH. “Our orthopedic Cuban doctor went back to Cuba last week we don’t have an orthopedic surgeon at the moment. They will be managed at MTRH and they need some specialization,” he said.