An attempt by a group of Kenya Wildlife Service rangers and police to arrest a wanted suspect turned tragic when one of them was killed in a village in Trans Nzoia.
The group of nine KWS rangers and a police officer from Kalaha police post had gone to Kisawai in Kinyoro where a wanted suspect was hiding, police said.
The suspect was wanted over claims of poaching and stealing.
The incident happened on Thursday evening, police said.
According to police, the team went to the suspect’s house and knocked on the door demanding that he surrenders.
Instead, he came out screaming and armed with a machete.
He then slashed KWS corporal Amos Lemermug killing him on the spot.
Lemermug was hacked in the back and left leg, witnesses said.
He also slashed a second ranger as his colleagues ran for safety.
This happened as a crowd surged at the scene trying to attack the security officials.
Police said this forced the team to shoot into the air to disperse the crowd instead of arresting the suspect.
It was in the process that the suspect managed to escape into a crowd that was at the scene, police said.
More police officers were called to the scene and managed to disperse the crowd before taking the injured ranger to hospital.
A team of DCI officers arrived at the scene minutes later.
They said investigations into the incident had commenced.
The team said they are looking for a known suspect in the ranger’s death.
The body of the ranger was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and further probe.
Police said the other rangers will be questioned over the incident as part of the probe into the attack.
