Seven Dead in Suspected Bandit Raid in Kitui as Homes Torched and Villagers Flee
NAIROBI, Kenya — At least seven people have been killed in a suspected retaliatory bandit attack in Kitui County, in a fresh escalation of insecurity in Kenya’s upper Eastern region.
The deadly assault occurred on Saturday, April 25, in Kamari village, Tseikuru, when heavily armed attackers stormed the area and opened fire on unsuspecting residents.
Police reports indicate that the victims — six men and one woman — were ambushed while working on a farm. The assailants, believed to be herders of Somali origin, fled the scene shortly after the attack, reportedly escaping into the nearby Mwingi Game Reserve using a Toyota Probox.
Kitui County Commissioner Erastus Mbui confirmed the incident, describing it as a targeted attack linked to ongoing inter-community tensions.
“One of the victims survived but sustained serious gunshot wounds and is currently receiving treatment at Tseikuru Level IV Hospital,” Mbui said.
The violence also left a trail of destruction, with several homes set ablaze, rendering dozens of families homeless. Residents, gripped by fear, have fled into nearby bushland amid concerns of further attacks.
Authorities believe the killings may be part of a retaliatory cycle of violence between rival groups following the earlier death of a herder in the game reserve.
“It is retaliation after a herder from one community killed a herder from another in the game park. This appears to be a counterattack,” a police officer involved in the investigation said.
The latest bloodshed comes despite ongoing government operations aimed at curbing banditry, which has plagued parts of the North Rift and upper Eastern regions, including Meru, Isiolo, Samburu, and Turkana counties.
In response to the growing insecurity, the government has intensified its crackdown, deploying security forces and advanced military equipment to restore order.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently warned that the State would take an uncompromising approach against armed groups following another fatal attack in Meru.
“The government of Kenya will use all instruments of war — our military, police officers, tanks, and aircraft — to confront the bandits,” Kindiki said.
He added that both police and Kenya Defence Forces personnel had been directed to suspend other assignments and prioritise operations targeting criminal gangs in affected regions.
The incident underscores the persistent challenge of banditry in Kenya, where cycles of revenge attacks continue to fuel instability despite heightened security interventions.
Also Read: Ruto Faces Backlash Over Kiharu TVC Launch | Nyoro’s Earlier Role Sparks Debate