Premium
Trail of death: Fury over unresolved killings on State-owned land in Trans Nzoia
Independent Police Oversight Authority ( IPOA) vice chair and acting chairperson Anne Wanjiku addressing security officers in Trans Nzoia on the need for a good working relationship with IPOA during a consultative forum on May 29, 2026.
A string of fatal shootings linked to security officers guarding government-owned land in Trans Nzoia County has left families grieving, with local communities and human rights groups demanding justice, accountability and compensation for those affected, even as investigators probe the growing list of alleged extra-judicial killings stretching back several years.
The latest victim, Dennis Kwemoi, 40, from Kitalale, was shot dead at the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) Olng'atongo Farm in Endebess last week, adding to a troubling pattern of deaths that critics say has gone largely unpunished.
Grieving families from previous incidents involving National Police Reservists (NPRs), police officers and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) personnel have been pursuing justice through the courts, with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) confirming that it is actively pursuing seven cases in court while another seven remain under investigation.
Tension at Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) Japata farm in Trans Nzoia after residents protested the killing of one of them.
Human rights defenders say the deaths in question have occurred on or around government-owned land, particularly vast farms belonging to ADC and disputed forest land, raising concerns about the use of lethal force by security personnel.
According to a police report seen by the Nation, in the latest incident, six Kenya Police Reservists were conducting a routine patrol in the Arran section of the farm when they intercepted a herd of 20 cattle allegedly grazing illegally in a sugarcane plantation.
Also Read: Hotspots of Kenya’s deadly land disputes
The officers reportedly drove the animals towards the farm yard before they were confronted by a group of young men armed with pangas and other crude weapons who sought to reclaim the seized livestock.
Chaos and shooting
Police said the officers fired 26 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition into the air in an attempt to disperse the group, but the confrontation escalated.
During the altercation, an NPR officer identified as David Otieno Odhiambo, 25, allegedly shot Mr Kwemoi. Police claimed the deceased had charged at the officer before the fatal shot was fired.
Mr Kwemoi was rushed to Kijana Wamalwa Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His death triggered violent protests, with angry residents from Kitalale storming the ADC farm and setting fire to approximately 140 acres of mature sugarcane and a hay storage f acility.
ADC Regional Manager Edward Ojode confirmed the destruction, saying residents had torched two sugarcane plantations and a hay store containing more than 10,000 bales.
"The destroyed sugarcane was ready for harvest and, unfortunately, our neighbours are applying force to graze their livestock on our farm," said Mr Ojode.
He estimated the losses at more than Sh28 million.
Mr Ojode acknowledged that the confrontation began after security officers impounded cattle found grazing on the farm.
Police probe
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Riko Ngare confirmed the shooting and said detectives had launched investigations.
The incident occurred less than a month after Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat presided over the pass-out parade of a new cohort of Kenya Police Reservists deployed to ADC farms in Endebess.
During the ceremony in May, Mr Lagat urged the reservists to serve with dignity and professionalism.
The killing of Mr Kwemoi is the latest in a series of controversial deaths that have fuelled concerns over the conduct of security officers operating on government land in Trans Nzoia.
For residents, the latest death is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern that continues to deepen mistrust between communities and the security agencies mandated to protect them.
Another case that attracted national attention occurred on April 7, 2025, when Musa Kibet Cheptot, a Form Three student at St Monica Secondary School Gituamba, was shot dead by Kenya Forest Service officers during a confrontation over ownership of the disputed 600-acre Exsoronzo Farm in Saboti Constituency.
The teenager was among residents who had gone to cultivate the land when they clashed with officers attempting to stop the exercise.
His family accused security officers of using excessive force and demanded justice.
An autopsy conducted on April 11, 2025, confirmed that the student died from a gunshot wound.
In April 2024, two people, Jairo Juma Musumbi, 21, and Thomas Simiyu Gaitano, 33, were shot dead by General Service Unit (GSU) officers based at Chepchoina during a confrontation at the disputed 1,200-acre Kambi Waya Farm owned by the ADC.
The ownership of the land has been contested since 2018, with squatters claiming they possess legal ownership documents and pursuing the matter in court.
More shootings
In October 2023, a young man identified as Emmanuel Barasa was shot dead at Sabwani after he was allegedly found inside an ADC maize plantation collecting leftover maize following harvest.
His body was later discovered with gunshot wounds in Field H2 at the ADC's Olng'atongo Farm.
As investigations into the cases continue, families of the victims are demanding not only criminal accountability for those responsible but also compensation for lives lost in circumstances they say were avoidable.
IPOA has confirmed that it is currently investigating the latest killing at Olng'atongo, as concerns grow over what rights groups describe as a pattern of deadly encounters involving security personnel in the county.
During a recent visit to Trans Nzoia, IPOA Acting Chairperson Anne Wanjiku revealed that the authority is actively pursuing seven cases in court while another seven remain under investigation.
"Yes, we are probing several matters to ensure all the affected families get justice, even as we push for accountability for the victims," said Ms Wanjiku.
Independent Police Oversight Authority ( IPOA) vice chair and acting chairperson Anne Wanjiku addressing security officers in Trans Nzoia on the need for a good working relationship with IPOA during a consultative forum on May 29, 2026.
Human rights organisations say the killings represent a longstanding pattern that has left families traumatised and struggling for justice.
The Justice and Peace Centre Kitale said it has documented numerous cases of alleged extra-judicial killings over the past five years and urged IPOA to fast-track investigations and prosecutions.
"These cases are all documented dating back about five years, but most of them do not see the light of day. Families have been left traumatised and burdened by the killings of their loved ones," said Mr Bonface Wanyoike, a paralegal officer at the organisation.
The renewed scrutiny comes as a section of leaders led by Governor George Natembeya accuse the National Government of allowing National Police Reservists deployed at ADC farms to operate with impunity.
Mr Natembeya claimed the NPR unit, which is legally recognised as an auxiliary community policing structure, had lost public confidence due to recurring fatal shootings. He demanded clarity on the command structure overseeing the reservists, citing concerns over accountability and alleged rogue operations.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
