Worker killed as armed gang flees security dragnet in Meru

Gunmen fatally shot a road construction worker in an attack in the Ndumuru area, Igembe, Meru County.

Police said the incident happened on Sunday, March 22, in the afternoon as workers attached to a Chinese company were busy on the Isiolo-Kulamawe Road.

The workers said they were attacked by about 50 men who were crossing the road. The group opened fire, fatally injuring Timothy Koome.

Witnesses said the gang appeared to be escaping from security agencies conducting an operation in the area.

A team of police officers guarding the site responded and engaged them in a shootout before they vanished into thickets.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending other procedures, police said.

The incident comes amid protests from locals over increased banditry attacks, which have left some dead and dozens of livestock stolen.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja visited the area on Monday and announced an additional 400 personnel had been deployed to boost the operations.

The Kenya Police Service, with support from the Kenya Defence Forces, has launched what authorities describe as the most comprehensive security operation in the country’s history, targeting renewed banditry attacks in the Meru region.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the government had made significant gains since taking office in 2022, restoring calm in previously volatile regions affected by terrorism and cattle rustling, particularly in North Eastern and coastal areas such as Lamu.

However, he raised concerns over a resurgence of banditry in Meru County, where near-daily attacks have reportedly led to loss of lives and widespread livestock theft.

The renewed operation will focus on known hotspots, including Mukogodo Forest, Kipsing, Ngare Mara and Milima Lebendera in Isiolo County, as well as Lentana and Sereolipi in Samburu County.

These areas are believed to be hideouts for armed bandits and locations where stolen livestock is being held. According to Kindiki, additional elite security units have been deployed, supported by enhanced equipment and air assets.

The operation will be intelligence-led and executed across both land and air, with a directive to neutralise threats, recover stolen livestock, and seize illegal firearms.

Security personnel have also been granted authority to use lawful force to protect civilians and law enforcement officers during the operation.

The government has urged residents in affected areas to remain calm and cooperate fully with security agencies, particularly as some zones may be officially declared disturbed and designated as operational areas.

Kindiki confirmed he had held a closed-door briefing with the Meru County Security and Intelligence Team, emphasising the urgency of delivering immediate results in restoring order.