7 people killed in a suspected bandit attack in Kitui
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered the immediate deployment of a strong security team to Kitui County after an armed attack left seven people dead in Kwa Kamari village, Tseikuru area.
The incident took place on the evening of Saturday, April 25, 2026, when a group of pastoralists from the Somali community crossed from Tana River County and opened fire on local residents. The attackers also set several houses on fire before escaping toward the nearby Mwingi Game Reserve in a Toyota Probox vehicle. Many families lost their homes and were left displaced as a result of the violence.
The victims included six men and one woman, all from the local Kamba community. Reports indicate that several other people were injured during the assault, though exact numbers of the wounded have not been confirmed. This latest violence appears to be part of a cycle of retaliatory clashes between the two communities. Earlier incidents include the killing of a 44-year-old Kamba herdsman near the Mwingi Game Reserve on March 1, followed by an attack on Somali herders at the end of March that claimed at least four lives. Authorities believe the April 25 attack was carried out in response to those previous events.
By Sunday morning, April 26, Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat had already arrived in the affected village with the first group of reinforcements, while additional officers continued to move into the area. IG Kanja strongly condemned the killings, describing them as a senseless loss of innocent lives. He assured the public that a full investigation would be conducted to bring those responsible to justice. The National Police Service urged residents and community leaders to remain calm, avoid further retaliation, and work together toward peace and reconciliation. Police have also called on anyone with useful information to come forward and assist with the ongoing probe
This deployment aims to restore calm in the border region between Kitui and Tana River counties, where resource-related tensions and livestock movements have often led to conflict in the past. Local leaders and security teams are expected to engage communities to prevent the situation from worsening. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of residents in remote villages and the need for stronger measures to address long-standing inter-community disputes. Authorities have promised to maintain a visible security presence while pursuing all suspects involved in the attack.
