The National Police Service has dispatched a high-powered security team to Tseikuru in Kitui County following a deadly Saturday evening attack on Kwa Kamari village that left seven people dead.
The incident marks the latest escalation in a cycle of retaliatory violence between members of the Kamba and Somali communities.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja ordered the deployment, led by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, who arrived in the area on Sunday morning as additional reinforcements were sent in. Kanja condemned the killings, terming them a senseless loss of life, and assured the public that thorough investigations are underway.
According to police reports, armed assailants believed to be Somali pastoralists from Tana River County raided the village, fatally shooting six men and one woman before fleeing towards the Mwingi Game Reserve in a Toyota Probox. Several houses were also set on fire, leaving multiple families displaced.
Authorities say the attack is part of a broader pattern of retaliatory violence that has unfolded over recent months. On March 1, a 44-year-old Kamba herder was reportedly killed near Mwingi Game Reserve, allegedly by Somali herders. In retaliation, members of the Kamba community are said to have killed at least four people from the Somali community on March 30. Saturday’s attack is believed to be a response to that incident.
The National Police Service noted that the recurring attacks reflect a dangerous cycle that must be urgently addressed. Security agencies have called for calm, urging community leaders to promote peace and residents to share any useful information with authorities.