This archive report was first published on 13 September 2021.
On September 11, 2021, a KTN News crew, led by senior reporter Ibrahim Karanja, came under attack by armed bandits in Laikipia while filming a news report for the station's prime time bulletin.
The team had sought to capture footage of the bandits using a drone, and initially, the device successfully captured images of the armed herders grazing livestock while holding onto their guns.
However, when the bandits noticed the drone hovering above them, one of them attempted to stone it, while another pointed a gun and opened fire.
"The armed herders struggled to hide from our cameras while some, brazenly opened fire with an intention to bring it down," Ibrahim Karanja narrated.
The bandits, who have been terrorizing families in Laikipia for months, have been moving towards Baringo County since the National Police Service launched an operation in the area.
According to Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, George Natembeya, the bandits possess sophisticated weapons, including M16s, which are more superior to those used by the police service.
"While our officers are using AK47 and G3 rifles, the bandits (in Laikipia) are using M16s and other heavy machinery, which are usually used by foreign armies who come for training in Kenya. We don't know how they get these heavy weapons," George Natembeya stated.
Despite the attack, the KTN News crew managed to escape unharmed, and the incident has highlighted the ongoing security concerns in the region.
