Renewed bandit attacks along the Turkana-West Pokot border are threatening the resumption of petroleum activities in the South Lokichar Basin, with local leaders warning they will oppose operations until security is restored.
At a meeting with the Aroo Sub-County security team last week, the leaders resolved to demand a halt to oil activities in affected areas unless the government guarantees residents’ safety.
“All Gulf Energy operations within the affected areas must be suspended until normalcy is restored and adequate security is guaranteed to the community living within the oil fields,” Turkana South MP Ariko Namoit said.
Dr Namoit said he would lead leaders in opposing any benefits linked to petroleum activities if operations resumed without adequate security. He urged the government to identify and arrest the attackers, recover stolen livestock and illegal firearms, and deploy Special Operations Group (SOG) officers to Lokwar, Logum and Kalomwae in Aroo, and Kamuge, Lomelo and Napeitom in Suguta.
The leaders said the deployment was needed to protect residents recently disarmed under government-led exercises, leaving them vulnerable to raids.
Lorogon village, rising from the bondage of bandits along the Turkana-Pokot border.
Photo credit: Sammy Lutta | Nation
“The government should also fast-track the recruitment of police reservists in banditry-prone areas where locals were disarmed,” Dr Namoit said. “You cannot disarm a community and abandon it to attackers.” Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was asked to provide an update on arrests, recovery of livestock and illegal firearms. Leaders demanded enforcement of the South Turkana National Reserve gazette notice and tighter control of livestock kraals in affected areas.
“Failure to act is not an option,” Dr Namoit said, warning that the leaders would consider constitutional, parliamentary and public accountability measures if their demands were not addressed.
Turkana Senator James Lomenen said the State had a duty to protect citizens and their property, accusing security agencies of failing to protect disarmed herders.
Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor said his constituency had recorded nine raids since the disarmament exercise, targeting Kangitit, Emanman, Lomunyen Akwaan, Kamuge, Ng’ilukia and Nakupurat villages.
Kamuge had been raided at least twice, with more than 1,100 livestock stolen and not recovered, he said.
“There is mass displacement in the affected villages due to vulnerability to armed bandits,” Mr Ngikor said, attributing the insecurity to limited security presence and difficult terrain.
He warned that the crisis could also have political consequences, saying: “The insecurity will force me to revisit my political dalliance with the ruling party UDA.”
The resolutions were endorsed by Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor, Turkana Senator James Lomenen, Kainuk MCA Aliwo Samuel, Kaputir MCA Michael Aemun, Lokichar MCA Samwel Lomodo, Katilia MCA Alphonce Loteder, Lokori Kochodin MCA Willy Napuyo and nominated MCA Selina Lokope.
A victim of the Lokwar village bandit attack in Turkana South Constituency, where three people were shot dead and another was injured on September 2, 2026, showing a spent bullet cartridge.
Photo credit: Sammy Lutta | Nation Media Group
Senator Lomenen said the state had a duty to protect citizens and their property, warning that failure to do so amounted to a failure of the State.
“The reason why people are fighting is that they don’t have adequate security from government, as it is witnessed through continued armed banditry where people are killed and livestock, which is their mainstay, driven away,” he said.
He accused the Special Operations Group of failing to create a peaceful environment for disarmed herders in Turkana East and Turkana South, saying its presence had instead worsened their vulnerability.
“Special Operations Group officers have failed to create a peaceful environment for disarmed herders in Turkana East and Turkana South by worsening their safety. We need recruitment and deployment of adequate national police reservists as a better solution to insecurity,” he said.
Mr Ngikor said his constituency had recorded nine raids since the disarmament exercise, targeting Kangitit, Emanman, Lomunyen Akwaan, Kamuge, Ng’ilukia and Nakupurat villages.
Kamuge village has been raided at least twice, he said, with more than 1,100 livestock stolen by bandits and yet to be recovered.
“There is mass displacement in the affected villages due to vulnerability to armed bandits. Most of our people were relying on illegal guns to protect their lives and property from bandits due to limited security presence in the areas with poor terrain,” he said.
“The insecurity will force me to revisit my political dalliance with the ruling party UDA,” he said.
