Seven people, including National Police Service (NPS) reservists, have been killed in a fresh wave of violent attacks in Meru and Isiolo counties, as heavily armed bandits struck multiple villages and made away with hundreds of livestock.
The incidents, which unfolded within hours of each other, exposed how fragile security remains in the region despite repeated government assurances that banditry is under control.
In the Igembe area of Meru, two people were shot dead when rustlers stormed homesteads at dawn. The attackers moved quickly, firing at residents before driving off with large herds of animals.
Barely hours later, another raid unfolded in Ngaremara, Isiolo County, where five more people were killed in a fierce clash as locals attempted to chase after the stolen livestock.
The confrontation turned deadly, leaving families devastated and entire villages in panic.
By Friday evening, reports indicated that at least three more people, two police reservists from Meru and another from Turkana, had been killed in separate attacks.
Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma confirmed that the rustlers appeared to have coordinated their strikes, targeting communities with minimal police presence and overwhelming local security teams.
The attackers did not just take lives; they also made off with a staggering amount of livestock.
More than 600 animals were reported stolen, about 400 from Igembe and another 200 from Tigania.
In Buuri constituency, particularly in Maili Saba, another group of armed men struck again, sparking fear among residents who now worry the raids will continue.
Two civilians were also injured during the shootouts and were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment. Their condition has not yet been disclosed.
Following the attacks, multi-agency security teams have been deployed across the affected areas to pursue the bandits and recover the livestock.
Patrols have been intensified, but the government has not yet issued a comprehensive statement outlining the scope of the ongoing operation or the long-term strategies to stabilize the region.
This violence mirrors an earlier incident in April, where four NPS reservists were ambushed and later died from their injuries.
The persistent insecurity has pushed Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma to renew calls for President William Ruto to authorize the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to reinforce security and help restore order in the northern grazing zones of the county.
The latest attacks make it clear: the banditry problem is far from contained, and residents remain dangerously exposed.
