In a shocking and daring move, armed bandits raided a hospital in Iten town and rescued their colleague who was undergoing treatment after being injured in a banditry raid.

Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner John Korir said police are investigating the incident. 

"We are following up to know why and how it happened," the county commissioner said, even as he condemned the raid. 

The man identified as Dennis Kemboi was under investigations over banditry in Kerio Valley and police were intending to arrest him, but his gang members got wind of the impending arrest and staged the daring rescue.

According to a police OB No. 02 of 10/04/2023, at about 0045 hours,  police officers acted on information that a patient being treated of gun shot wounds at Iten County Referral Hospital was intending to escape from the said facility. 

Ten police officers drawn from DCI Keiyo North and Iten police station visited the said facility and found Kemboi in stable condition, and would be due for discharge. 

Four police officers went to the ward to help secure discharge of the said while the other six officers were manning the main hospital gate.

At about 0210 hours the patient was discharged and immediately at entrance of the ward a group of 10 young men, six of them armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed the ward, smashed windows and rescued the patient from police officers.

The police report said nobody was injured during confrontation. Police officers combed the area but were not immediately able to make any arrests.

DCI Keiyo North are  dealing with the case.

The incident has sparked panic among staff at the facility who have expressed fear for their lives following the raid.

"We fear for our lives and may even withdraw our services until we are assured of safety," a nurse at the facility.

The armed group gained entry to the hospital by cutting through a wire mesh fence.