Family in search of missing truck driver after bandit attack on Kainuk-Turkana highway
The family of George Gatundu Karera, a truck driver, are frantically searching for him after he went missing following a bandit attack on his truck along Kainuk-Turkana Highway last Friday.
Karera was ferrying relief food from Mombasa to Kakuma Refugee Camp with his turnboy, Fred Hinzano when they were ambushed past the Kenya Wildlife Service Camp.
According to Hinzano, the truck’s front tyre was shot by unknown bandits, but the two drove for another two kilometers before stopping to change the tyre, only to see a group of four bandits carrying weapons heading towards them.
The two fled into nearby bushes, where they fell into the hands of more bandits and were forced to run in different directions. Hinzano recounted that he heard Karera scream, “They are killing me,” which was the last anyone heard from the truck driver.
The family reported the matter at the Kainuk Police Station and have been searching the area, but Karera has not been found. The family is appealing to anyone with information to report it to the police.
The incident occurred amidst heightened security concerns in the area, as authorities are stepping up security measures following rampant bandit attacks. Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome arrived in Kainuk on Tuesday morning to assess the situation.
Three police officers were killed, and several others were injured in a brutal ambush by suspected bandits in Turkana County on the same Friday evening.
The attack happened along the Kitale-Lodwar highway, 5km from the Kenya Wildlife Service Camp towards Kalong.