A police officer was shot dead on Monday, November 3, in Turkana County, and his AK-47 rifle was stolen while he was on duty guarding the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
According to initial police reports, the constable was attacked by suspected bandits who struck him on the head before fatally shooting him.
The attackers then escaped with his loaded rifle, which contained 30 rounds of ammunition.
At the time of the incident, the slain officer was working alongside a colleague to guard an examination container stationed at the Deputy County Commissioner’s offices.
The two officers were on routine security duty to ensure the safety and smooth running of the national exams when the bandits launched their ambush.
Following the attack, security forces were immediately deployed to the scene. The officer’s body was moved to a nearby mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination as investigations continue.
Police sources revealed that early findings suggest the assailants targeted the officer mainly to steal his weapon. A manhunt has since been launched to track down the suspects and recover the stolen rifle.
This tragic incident adds to the growing insecurity in Turkana County, where cases of bandit attacks have sharply increased in recent weeks.
Reports indicate that at least ten people have been killed by armed bandits along the Turkana–West Pokot border over the past two weeks alone.
Despite the deployment of a multi-agency security team made up of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Police Service (NPS), insecurity in the North Rift region remains a persistent challenge.
Banditry and cattle rustling have continued to threaten the lives of residents and disrupt vital activities such as education and trade.
Turkana is one of the counties currently under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, a government-led operation aimed at eliminating banditry and restoring peace in the North Rift. Other counties included in the operation are West Pokot, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru, Isiolo, and Baringo.
The killing comes just weeks after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced new measures to combat rising insecurity in bandit-prone areas.
Speaking in Madera County on September 24, Murkomen revealed that the government was planning to arm local chiefs and sub-chiefs with licensed firearms to strengthen community security efforts.
According to the CS, this decision was made following requests from local administrators working in dangerous regions like Kerio Valley, where some chiefs have already been issued with guns for self-protection and to help security agencies in combating banditry.
Murkomen further ordered all individuals in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them immediately to the nearest police station.
He warned that anyone found keeping illegal weapons would face serious consequences as the government intensifies its crackdown on armed criminals in the North Rift.
The death of the officer has once again raised concerns about the safety of security personnel and exam officials working in volatile areas.
Residents and leaders from the region have urged the government to speed up its efforts to restore lasting peace and ensure that both students and security officers can operate safely without fear of attacks.
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