Two sand harvesters shot dead in confrontation with forest rangers in Kakamega

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Two sand harvesters were shot and killed in a confrontation with forest rangers in Shinyalu area, Kakamega County.

The incident happened on January 19, 2026 evening after a group of armed forest rangers from Lurambi Forest intercepted a tractor carrying an unknown amount of sand.

The rangers argued there was illegal sand harvesting in the Ondolo area along River Isikhu. According to the police, when they stopped the tractor, the crew raised an alarm alerting a mob who started to pelt stones and wigs at the rangers.

This prompted the rangers to open fire and fatally wounded Godfrey Muyonga, 52 and Benedict Isiakali, 34.

A third man was shot and seriously wounded in the leg.

The mob attacked and chased the rangers from the scene and set on fire their motorcycle in the drama.

The rangers escaped the scene and were yet to be traced on Tuesday. One was rescued and rushed to the hospital with an injury in the leg, police said.

Police arrived at the scene past midnight and moved the bodies to the mortuary pending an autopsy and other procedures.

Police said they are investigating the incident even as tension remained high in the area. Officials have banned sand harvesting in the area as part of preservation of the environment.

A security team visited the area on Tuesday as part of efforts to contain the rising tensions. They said sand harvesting remains banned in the area. The locals demanded justice for the killing of the harvesters.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man was killed by a speeding train in Shimanzi area, Mombasa. The police identified him as Joab Bukachi.

His body was found on the railway line after the accident on Monday, police said.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy and other investigations over the accident involving the man who was a security guard at the scene.