A case involving seven suspects linked to the murder of 42 police officers at Suguta Valley in Baragoi will be heard on October 29 this year.
In the case, the suspects are accused of killing the 12 Kenya Police Reservists at Lomirok village in Baragoi on October 19/20 in 2012 during a livestock recovery mission.
The accused allegedly had stolen 501 cows that the reservists were following. The case failed to kick off after the prosecution failed to avail witnesses to testify against the suspects facing additional charges of robbery with violence.
High Court judge Hellen Omondi gave the directive after the prosecution said there was a communication breakdown between himself and the police in Baragoi. The officers in Baragoi were to produce the witnesses.
Nachola ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Lawrence Lorunyei, who is out on a Sh5 million bond and one of the suspects, were also present in court during the hearing.
Their Lawyers, Robert Ndubi and Solomon Wamwayi ,objected the adjournment and expressed disappointment after the prosecution revealed that they had no witnesses in court.
“We object the adjournment as the accused suffer travel constraints. The prosecution is delaying justice for our clients,” said the counsels.
An investigating officer, Superintendent Charles Mwazinga attached to the Provincial Criminal Investigation department (CID) headquarters in Nakuru, told the court that suspected Turkana raiders attacked a Samburu Manyatta at Ndito location in Nyiro division and drove away 501 livestock.
The animals, according to Mwazinga, belonged to nominated councillor Samuel Letipila. The animals were then driven towards Kawap location and Nachola Location and eventually to a certain Turkana Manyatta called Lomirokin Nachola. In an attempt to recover the animals, after heightened tension between Turkana and Samburu communities on October 30 2012, 12 Samburu herdsmen together with Kenya Police reservists were killed at Lomirok.
Nachola ward MCA and area chiefs have been linked with the robbery case for allegedly concealing the identity, location and whereabouts of the raiders.