Four people were killed in a suspected banditry attack at the Mwingi National Reserve in Tseikuru, Kitui County, on Friday, June 5, after armed assailants ambushed victims at the Itimba-Ithei water point.
According to Kitui County Commissioner Erastus Mbui, the attackers, believed to be camel herders, opened fire indiscriminately on the victims and their livestock before fleeing into nearby thickets.
Security agencies have since launched a manhunt for the suspects, with a multi-agency team deployed to pursue and apprehend those responsible.
New banditry violence in Kitui leaves four dead. Photo: Courtesy.
The incident has sparked outrage among local leaders, who have condemned the attack and called for stronger government intervention to curb recurring insecurity in the region.
Some leaders have also criticized remarks made by senior government officials regarding the ongoing conflict, with calls for accountability and resignation in certain quarters.
The attack comes less than two months after a similar incident in late April, where eight people were killed in Tseikuru, Mwingi North Constituency.
In that earlier attack, armed assailants raided a shopping centre, killing residents, injuring others, and destroying property including shops, a petrol station, and motorcycles.
Authorities have described the violence as part of ongoing retaliatory clashes linked to tensions between communities in the area.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has deployed additional security personnel, led by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, to restore order and prevent further attacks.
