In a decisive show of force, four suspected bandits were shot dead in Kubisera village, Kinna Ward, Isiolo County—an area straddling the volatile border with Igembe, Meru County—during a well-coordinated security operation by a multi-agency team.
The deadly raid, executed by elite officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), marks the latest success under the government’s intensified campaign to neutralize banditry and organized criminal networks across the North Rift and northern Kenya.
Acting on credible intelligence, the security team stormed a makeshift camp believed to be a base of operations for an armed gang that had been terrorizing local communities.
In the ensuing operation, four armed suspects were fatally shot. Authorities recovered six AK-47 rifles, 527 rounds of ammunition, and eight mobile phones from the scene, which are now under forensic examination for links to broader criminal networks.
According to intelligence sources, the slain individuals were part of a notorious group implicated in a series of violent attacks, cattle rustling incidents, and cross-border raids that have plagued Isiolo, Meru, and adjacent counties for months.
The gang’s activities had sown fear, disrupted pastoralist livelihoods, and strained inter-community relations.
The raid came just days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued a stern directive for an escalated crackdown on armed criminal groups operating in the region.
Murkomen, who recently toured hotspot areas, expressed concern over the persistence of insecurity despite ongoing operations, and pledged to enhance the government’s tactical and community-driven responses.
The operation forms part of the broader Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift (Operation End Crime in North Rift), a government-led security initiative launched to dismantle the infrastructure of organized banditry, restore peace, and rebuild trust in state security mechanisms.
While officials report a significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of attacks, isolated flare-ups underscore the enduring challenge of eradicating deeply entrenched criminal enterprises.
In addition to deploying more National Police Reservists (NPRs) to reinforce existing security operations, CS Murkomen has proposed a controversial but potentially transformative policy: arming local chiefs who pass thorough vetting and receive specialized training.
The move aims to empower grassroots governance structures and enhance real-time response in remote, underserved regions.
“This is a strategic victory,” said a senior security official involved in the operation. “The weapons we recovered could have been used in further attacks. We are sending a clear message to those who believe they can destabilize our communities without consequence.”
Local leaders and residents welcomed the crackdown but urged the government to complement security efforts with sustainable peacebuilding measures, including youth empowerment, inter-community dialogue, and development investment in marginalized regions.
Analysts note that while forceful interventions like the Kubisera raid demonstrate the government’s commitment, a long-term solution to insecurity in northern Kenya will depend on a delicate balance of security enforcement, political will, and socioeconomic reforms.
As Operation Maliza Uhalifu continues to expand across the North Rift and parts of northern Kenya, the government faces the critical task of sustaining momentum while ensuring that its methods remain accountable, rights-respecting, and community-centered.
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