Three people were Friday killed and one critically injured by gunmen who attacked a matatu in the Kakong area of Turkana South.
The bandits ambushed a Lodwar-bound Public Service Vehicle, spraying it with bullets as the driver sped off to avoid the flying bullets.
He said he tried to move at high speed and in a zig-zag manner to avoid a hit.
The bullets-riddled vehicle belonging to Turkrift Sacco that plies the Kitale – Lodwar route, was headed for Lodwar at the time of the attack, police and witnesses said.
The driver of the matatu Ishmael Wekesa said the gunmen appeared to be pedestrians on the road who posed no danger.
The attack claimed three people and critically injured one.
Police said among the dead was a secondary school student and a refugee who studies in Kitale and was en route to the camp in Lodwar.
Another group had earlier attacked Kakong village killing two people and making away with more than 150 goats.
The highway attack is the fourth one this month alone, the Matatu operators said as they demanded enhanced security on the route.
Last week, one passenger was injured in a similar attack in the Kainuk area.
Turkana County Police Commander Samuel Ndayi said more officers have been deployed to patrol the area to repulse further attacks.
Ndayi named the stretch between Kakong and KWS as the most dangerous hotspot along the Kitale – Lodwar highway.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has vowed to deal ruthlessly with bandits in hot spot areas.
He said the government will use its manpower to guarantee the safety of residents.
The CS declared banditry a threat to national security and vowed to flush them out of their hideouts.
“The Government will use force to flush out armed and dangerous bandits and bring permanent peace and security in this area and other affected parts of our Country,” he affirmed.