The National Liberal Party (NLP) has called on the government to declare a national security emergency in Mwingi North following a surge in deadly violence, urging the deployment of the military to restore order.

In a letter addressed to State House, the Office of the Deputy President and the Ministry of Interior, NLP leader Dr Augustus Muli appealed to President William Ruto to invoke Article 58 of the Constitution and formally declare a state of emergency.

Article 58 of the Constitution of Kenya provides the legal framework for declaring and managing a state of emergency, allowing the government to exercise extraordinary powers during severe crises such as war, widespread unrest, or natural disasters, while still safeguarding fundamental rights.

“I write to you with the utmost urgency and with the weight of 14 dead Kenyans on my conscience,” Muli said.

Muli argued that the scale and pattern of violence witnessed in Mwingi North over the past month meets the constitutional threshold for a national emergency.

He further demanded compensation of Sh5 million for each bereaved family affected by the attacks.

According to the NLP leader, a series of incidents between late March and the end of April paints a grim picture of deteriorating security in the region.

On March 29, a Kamba herdsman was reportedly murdered near the Mwingi Game Reserve. The following day, four Somali Kenyans were killed in a retaliatory attack in Mwingi Central.

The violence escalated on April 25, when seven people were massacred in Kwa Kamari, Tseikuru Ward, by an estimated 40 gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles. The attackers remain at large.

Days later, on April 28, a passenger bus was stoned at Ukasi along the Mwingi–Garissa Highway, resulting in the death of a child and injuries to several passengers.

The incident prompted bus companies to suspend services along the route.

Tensions further intensified on April 29 when Somali-owned businesses in Mwingi Town shut down amid fears of further attacks. Protests erupted following the killing of a pupil, with police reportedly dispersing demonstrators using tear gas.

Muli warned that the continued breakdown of law and order risks spiralling into a broader crisis if urgent action is not taken.

“This is no longer a localised security issue. It is a national emergency that demands decisive and immediate intervention, including the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces to stabilise the region,” he said.

Meanwhile, leaders from North Eastern Kenya have equally urged the government to act swiftly to restore peace, warning that escalating clashes along the Kitui–Garissa border have paralysed transport and disrupted livelihoods along the critical corridor.