Four killed as KDF, GSU engage Samburu bandits in firefight

Four people, including a suspected bandit, were killed in Samburu County on Saturday, July 11, after heavily armed raiders attacked herders in the latest incident to hit the region, less than 48 hours after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen toured the area and pledged to intensify the fight against banditry.

The attack occurred at Nolkera Village in Samburu West, where about 40 armed bandits believed to have crossed from neighbouring Baringo County raided local herders and attempted to drive away their livestock.

According to preliminary reports, three civilians were killed during the attack before security officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the General Service Unit (GSU) responded from Ntungai and Nolkera camps.

The security operation resulted in a gun battle that left one suspected bandit dead, while officers successfully recovered all the stolen livestock, thwarting the attackers’ escape.

The bodies of the three civilians and the suspected bandit were moved to the Samburu County Referral Hospital mortuary for preservation and postmortem examinations.

The latest attack has sparked fresh concerns among residents, with locals questioning the effectiveness of ongoing security operations despite increased deployment of security personnel in the region.

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The incident came barely a day after Murkomen visited Samburu, where he held consultations with local leaders and security agencies before announcing fresh measures to eliminate the remaining pockets of banditry.

“Held a consultative meeting with local leaders and security stakeholders at Lolmolok in Suguta, Samburu County, where I announced a raft of measures to weed out the remaining pockets of banditry in the region,” Murkomen said after the meeting.

The Interior CS also issued a warning to armed criminals operating across Samburu and neighbouring counties, urging them to surrender their weapons before the government launched fresh operations against them.

“I called upon those who have not surrendered their arms in the county and neighbouring Baringo and Isiolo to do so voluntarily before we go for them,” Murkomen stated.

He further announced plans to vet National Police Reservists operating in the region and increase their numbers while expanding roads, security installations and mobile network coverage to strengthen security operations.

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