A member of the National Police Reserve (NPR) was shot and killed while four others were seriously injured during a suspected bandit attack in the volatile Mukogodo area of Laikipia County on Monday, July 28.
Late-Night Assault on Seeki NPR Camp
The attack took place at the Seeki NPR camp in Doldol, a region known for frequent banditry incidents. According to police, a group of armed assailants launched a surprise assault on the camp late Monday night, sparking a two-hour gun battle.
Despite being outnumbered, the NPR officers held off the attackers while calling for reinforcements. Officers from Doldol Police Station responded to the distress call and arrived at the scene after a prolonged standoff, prompting the bandits to flee into the darkness.
One Officer Killed, Four Hospitalized
After securing the area, police confirmed that James Kaiyok Kwale, an NPR officer, had succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during the attack.
The four other injured officers were rescued and rushed to hospital in critical condition, police said. The body of the fallen officer was moved to the mortuary pending postmortem and other official procedures.
Attack Believed to Be Linked to Livestock Theft
While the motive behind the ambush is still under investigation, police suspect the attackers were part of a larger coordinated bandit operation. Authorities believe the gunmen may have been distracting security forces while accomplices staged livestock thefts elsewhere in the region.
“This appears to be a diversionary tactic, potentially linked to livestock rustling activities,” said a senior police officer familiar with the investigation.
Banditry Crisis in the North Rift Escalates
Laikipia is among several counties currently under a government-led security operation targeting rampant banditry and cattle rustling that has destabilized the North Rift and surrounding regions.
Communities in parts of Baringo, Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot, and Laikipia have been heavily affected by frequent raids, often resulting in death, displacement, and loss of property.
Many of the stolen animals are later sold in urban markets, feeding into a criminal meat trade.
Background: Ongoing Security Operation
The government continues to deploy special units and NPR officers in high-risk regions, but attacks persist, raising concerns over intelligence coordination and troop mobility in remote areas.
