Two suspected bandits shot and killed in ambush by police in Isiolo
FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE
Two suspected bandits were Sunday shot and killed in an ambush by police in Daaba area, Isiolo County.
The deceased were said to be part of a gang that was headed for a robbery mission on livestock when they were ambushed and fatally shot.
Their accomplices managed to escape after the March 1, 2026 afternoon incident, police said. Police said they recovered an AK47 rifle loaded with nine bullets and two mobile phones from the slain men.
The group was crossing the Ngaremara area when they were ambushed. The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending identification and autopsy.
The area has been experiencing a surge in banditry. This prompted protests from the locals who demanded action to address the menace. The government has reacted by deploying more personnel to the area to address the problem.
The area is among those under Operation Maliza Uhalifu aimed at dealing with bandits. The operation has managed to contain crime in the area and other counties amid persistence.
The operation targets Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru and Isiolo counties. Besides retributive reaction, strategic investment and sustainable development have also taken a prominent place among the government’s planned crime control interventions for Kenya’s Northern frontier and the Kerio Valley belt.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the long-term vision is to empower the communities to actively take part in the war against animal rustling and undertake legitimate nation-building activities.
He said plans to distribute subsidized agricultural inputs and extension services to area residents in a bid to revive farming activities as a source of livelihood.
Murkomen ordered fresh vetting for all National Police Reservists (NPRs) as part of efforts to bolster the operations.
He also announced a new policy shift, which institutionalizes the command structure of the NPR officers, stating they will hence be under the direct command of the Officer Commanding Police Stations (OCS) as part of efforts to enhance their operations.