Armed bandits shoot boy, torch houses in Kitui

The Kitui government has vowed to establish firm measures to deal with insecurity after armed bandits shot at a child and torched houses on Friday.

On Saturday, County Executive Committee Member Peter Nkunda led a fact-finding delegation to Mandongoi in Mwingi North.

He said the attack happened only a few kilometres from Mandongoi Police Station.  

“We are shocked that despite Governor Julius Malombe’s administration setting up a modern police station at Mandongoi, the GSU officers occupying the facility did not act proactively to repulse the attack and pursue the bandits,” Nkunda said.

Nkunda said Malombe sent him to assess the situation following the deadly attack. Ngomeni MCA Nzungi Ngwele and the county chief officer in charge of boda boda, Peter Musya accompanied him to the scene.

“The situation is not good because inaction by security apparatus has left residents fearing for their lives. Thousand have fled their homes and are sleeping out in the cold,” he said.

He described the shooting of the boy as inhuman and barbaric.

Speaking at the Mandongoi trading centre, Nkunda said Kitui county was keen to work with the national government to determine the border between Kitui and Tana River counties.

“We are facing this banditry problem because the bandits from Tana River who pose as herders enter Kitui county and set up camp. Once the surveyors finish their work the common border will be overt,” he said.