by CYRUS OMBATI
Monday November 27, 2023
CRIME: Crime scene.
Image: The Star
The stabbing to death of a police officer and stealing of two rifles in a village in Siaya has sparked fears terrorism could be spreading there.
Already multi-agency teams are camping in the area to investigate and profile the suspects behind the attack last Monday in which a constable of police was stabbed to death and another wounded in an ambush on the road.
Police have confirmed the attackers were returnees from Somalia and had been operating in the area.
It is not clear what motivated them to stage the attack in the sleepy village.
The incident marked the crime of the week as police rushed to address the concerns in the area.
Detectives have revealed they suspect the area has many returnees who had been radicalized in Somalia.
Most of them are currently posing as hawkers and could strike anytime when instructed.
“We understand these are returnees and could be on a mission. Ours now is to know how many and where they are,” an investigator said.
A special squad sent from Nairobi killed two of the suspects who killed the police officer and injured another one before robbing them of their rifles Wednesday morning near the Kenya-Uganda border.
They were killed in Awinga area in Alego Usonga. They had moved from Wanga Hills near the border to the area where they were confronted, police said.
The two had stolen from the police officer an AK47 rifle and an MP5 with 40 bullets which were recovered, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin.
Police also recovered a muffin, white boots and a knife from the gang.
The hunt for a third suspect is still on, police said.