They surrendered their guns. Now bandits are hunting them down

• Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has raised concerns about powerful individuals allegedly taking over gold-mining activities at Kalomwae and Nariomoru while taking advantage of the ongoing disarmament operation.
• He claimed that some security personnel had resorted to protecting private investors while threatening local administrators and miners with the disarmament operation.

However, armed bandits continue to raid villages, steal livestock and kill those who cannot escape.

At about 1.00am on Wednesday, three herders were shot dead and another seriously injured after armed bandits raided Lokwar village in Turkana South Constituency.

Herders from across the constituency had moved to the area in search of pasture and water from the nearby Turkwel River. Kaputir Location Chief Hosea Emeri said police reservists were overwhelmed during the attack.

Turkana County Police Commander John Tarus confirmed the attack and said officers had been deployed to establish the exact number of people killed and livestock stolen, as well as launch a recovery operation.

“The Special Operations Group (SOG) appears to have failed in its disarmament exercise because they only targeted easy-to-trace herders. Heavily armed bandits from Baringo County who fled the disarmament operation settled around the Mosol area and in South Turkana National Reserve are the ones terrorizing us,” said Peter Lokitoe, a resident.

“The government must act decisively and urgently. Disarmament must be genuine, comprehensive and sustained—not selective or cosmetic. Our communities cannot continue burying their loved ones while armed bandits operate with impunity. We surrendered our guns. Why are the bandits still armed?” he posed.

'Left defenceless'

Turkana South MP Ariko Namoit, who visited Lokwar to assess the situation, condemned the killings.

“I have repeatedly told the government that disarming our people without providing the National Police Reservists (NPRs) with legal firearms is exposing innocent Turkana families to deadly attacks. Our people cannot be left defenceless while armed criminals invade their homes, steal livestock and take lives,” Dr Namoit said.

Dr Namoit said the National Government Constituency Development Fund had financed construction of the Vent Bridge across the Turkwel River, connecting Kaputir Junction to Nakwamoru village, as well as the Kaputir-Loyapat security road.

He said there were also plans to repair Lokwar/Nakuse Primary School, which was vandalised by bandits, during the current financial year.

“During interaction with locals, I raised concern about reports of the Special Operations Group (SOG) harassing innocent people in our towns while the actual bandits continue to hide in the mountains of Loritit, Kailongkol and Kadeng’oi. Our people should not be made victims twice—first by banditry and then by a security response that targets the wrong people. We need a focused and intelligence-led approach that goes after the criminals,” Dr Ariko said.

In Turkana East, residents of Kamuge, Emanman, Kangitit, Lokwamosing, Kaaruko and Katilia villages say bandits have capitalised on the disarmament operation to attack remote settlements with limited security presence.

In Kamuge, youth leader Lopeyok Edung said the village has only four police reservists and a deserted police post.

“We have been attacked more than four times in two months with livestock stolen without recovery efforts. In July, during a disarmament operation by the Special Operations Group, we were attacked on August 13, 25 and 30. The attacks have escalated towards the end of August, with most of our parents losing livestock in the August 30 attack,” he said.

In Emanman and Kangitit, some residents have fled to Lokori, the Turkana East Sub-County headquarters, saying they will only return when their security is assured.

Josphat Ekuwom, an Emanman resident, said the disarmament operation had been skewed.

“The disarmament operation was skewed and only targeted one community. Suguta Valley where most of the Turkana East villages are located has a history of monthly bandit attacks. We expected that the multi-agency security team will prioritize bandit hideouts to flush them out because they have control over grazing fields and water points,” he said.

Human rights defender John Alemu said the operation had worsened insecurity in Turkana East, where security personnel remain thin on the ground.

Turkana Senator James Lomenen condemned the attacks, saying families had once again been thrown into fear while children and elders were forced to flee their homes and livelihoods were threatened.

“It is unacceptable that our people continue to live in danger on their own land. These persistent raids have reopened a wound that Kamuge and neighbouring villages have carried for far too long. Despite ongoing security operations, criminal elements still strike along our border corridors with impunity. The first duty of any government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. The people of Turkana East deserve security, dignity and justice, not delayed responses and empty assurances,” Mr Lomenen said.

The insecurity now threatens to undo one of the few economic lifelines that had emerged for communities affected by years of banditry.

Gold mining along the Turkana-Pokot border had offered some residents an alternative source of income, but renewed attacks have forced miners to abandon their sites.

At Kalomwae village, armed bandits have reportedly been robbing miners of cash and property and have shot dead two people.

Lopem Ekitela said that during a peace meeting on August 26, 2026, at the nearby Morita gold-mining village in Pokot North Sub-County, an armed gang targeting visitors emerged.

“I lost seven goats and Sh30,000 in an incident where Lopem Urien and Lorot Nakain were shot dead and their 40 goats and a motorcycle stolen,” Mr Ekitela said.

Lokusi Eregae, Henry Etoot, Lokol Imoni, Samson Etiir, Jackson Edipo and Samson Lobuin also lost motorcycles.

Among those affected is Meshack Ekai Ekiru, a young man who had turned to gold mining at Kalomwae to raise money for his university education.

“If peace and security is not restored along the border, many of the needy students will remain at home with their poor parents without any financial support to even buy their requirements,” Mr Ekiru said.

Aroo Deputy County Commissioner Dennis Barasa called for peaceful coexistence, enhanced security and strict adherence to mining regulations to support sustainable development.

He said public engagement forums had been held in border villages including Kalomwae and Juluk mining sites in Aroo Sub-County, where residents could benefit from the region’s mineral wealth if peace was sustained.

“We have enhanced security patrols in coordination with our counterparts from neighboring West Pokot County to ensure security is stabilized and perpetrators of isolated incidents of insecurity are brought to book,” Mr Barasa said.

He also called for investigations into financiers of the latest attacks, saying they could be seeking to drive local miners away so they can control the mines.

Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has also raised concerns about powerful individuals allegedly taking over gold-mining activities at Kalomwae and Nariomoru while taking advantage of the ongoing disarmament operation.

He claimed that some security personnel had resorted to protecting private investors while threatening local administrators and miners with the disarmament operation.

“A county government administrator who had, in July, visited Nariomoru village to check on revenue compliance was arrested and forced to produce illegal guns. As a devolved unit, we will only allow licensed gold miners. We will mobilize local communities to withdraw Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from gold miners, facilitating painful disarmament operation at the border for immediate operational shutdown,” Mr Lomorukai said.

Turkana County Mining Deputy Director Elim Areman called for responsible and inclusive mining practices, saying community landowners must work closely with investors to ensure mutual benefit.

Despite the insecurity, interest in the region’s gold deposits remains strong.

During a public sensitisation meeting last month attended by county and national government officials, artisanal miners, community leaders, investors and residents, the company’s representative, Pius Ewoton, said it would operate within the law and honour agreements reached with the community.

“We are also committed to drilling water where possible, supporting the formation of community groups and cooperatives, and working closely with residents. Discussions on additional Corporate Social Responsibility projects will continue once the company receives the necessary certification and licences,” Mr Ewoton said.

In July, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the national government would establish a permanent Special Operations Group camp along the Turkana-West Pokot border as part of long-term plans to eradicate banditry in the North Rift.

The CS said the ministry had acknowledged public outcry over attacks in Turkana East, Turkana South and Aroo sub-counties by bandits operating from known hideouts.

He said the government was looking for land to establish the permanent SOG camp, which would help coordinate disarmament operations along the border. He stressed that SOG officers would remain permanently in Turkana to eliminate illegal guns from civilians and enable affected sub-counties to focus on development.

“I am aware that there are bandits who escaped from disarmament operations in Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties and are hiding in areas such as Kailongol and Lochakula. The bandits are from both Turkana and Pokot communities and love each other, thinking that we will forget reaching out to them. After eliminating illegal guns from targeted villages and centres, we will go for them,” the CS said.

He also said additional administrative units, including Napeitom and Katilia divisions and several locations and sub-locations in Suguta and Turkana East sub-counties requested by Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor, would be operationalised to improve security and bring government services closer to residents.

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