Two perish in attack on home of Kenya’s deputy president

ELDORET: A gunman and a police officer were killed in an attack on the home of Kenya’s deputy president in this western town, a senior administrator said yesterday, just a week before the national elections.

Deputy President William Ruto and his family were not at home at the time of the attack on Saturday, police said.

Ruto is the running mate of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is seeking a second and final term in office in the August 8 elections.

“From the exchange of gunfire we thought it was more than one attacker because he used different firearms, but after we subdued him we found only one man dead, plus our officer whom he had killed,” Wanyama Musiambo, Rift Valley regional co-ordinator, told reporters at the scene yesterday.

Musiambo declined to comment when asked about the motive of the attack or the attacker’s identity. The deputy president’s residence is guarded by an elite paramilitary police unit.

Musiambo said the attacker initially had no gun, but had managed to break into the police armoury once inside the compound.

“After the operation we discovered that it was one gunman, but because he was inside, he could change position and firearms as he had access to the guns.

“And the guns he was using were ours,” he said. “We have, however, launched investigations into the issue to find out if he conducted the attack alone or if whether he was with others who may have escaped.”

Ruto and Kenyatta spent Saturday campaigning in the counties of Kitale, Kericho and Narok, the president’s office said.