By John Mutiso
Three National Police Reservists were shot dead on Sunday, November 30, in a bandit attack in Chari, Merti, Isiolo County.
According to reports, the officers were ambushed by armed bandits while guarding livestock in the area during the night.
The attackers are believed to have come from neighboring Samburu County.
Merti Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Michael Kioni confirmed the incident, stating that the NPR officers were on duty protecting livestock when they came under fire from the heavily armed assailants.
The Deputy County Commissioner sought to reassure residents following the deadly attack, emphasizing that the government is taking measures to enhance security in the region.
Kioni also promised that security agencies are working to track down the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.
This comes a day after a devastating series of attacks left at least seven people dead and hundreds of livestock stolen by suspected bandits in different parts of Meru County on Friday.
According to Meru County Peace and Herders Chairman Charles Kamwibua, two people were killed in the Igembe region. In contrast, five others lost their lives in Ngaremara, Isiolo County, as herders attempted to recover stolen livestock.
The Friday raids resulted in over 400 heads of livestock being stolen in Igembe and more than 200 taken in Tigania. Another attack occurred in the evening at Maili Saba in Buuri Constituency, further compounding the security crisis in the region.
The back-to-back attacks highlight the escalating insecurity along the borders of Isiolo, Meru, and Samburu counties, where banditry and cattle rustling have remained persistent challenges despite government efforts to restore peace.
The killing of the three police reservists, who form a crucial part of the security apparatus in remote and volatile areas, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of security personnel and civilians in bandit-prone regions.
