Suspected Ethiopian militia have killed four fishermen in yet another Todonyang attack on Thursday May 15, causing tension in Turkana North Sub-County.
They attacked fishermen who had cast their nets at night into Lake Turkana with hopes of a big catch.
Deputy County Commissioner George Orina confirmed that four fishermen were shot dead at night and their bodies discovered early Thursday morning by their colleagues who had heard gunshots.
“I am currently heading to the scene of crime where we have deployed security personnel from various units to assure locals of their safety. This is a fresh attack since the February 22, 2025, attack where militiamen targeted Kenyan pastoralists, fishermen, and traders at Lotiira and Lopeimukat border villages on the shores of Lake Turkana," Mr Orina said.
A local administrator at Todonyang, Mr Mustafa Kebo, said he heard gunshots at 4am.
"There were fishermen who had cast their nets into the lake, and normally, few of them spent their night in temporary structures along the shores as they waited for the catch. Militia ambushed them while asleep," Mr Kebo said.
The Todonyang area, he said, has been experiencing relative peace since the February attack. However, many locals are still in pain as their loved ones are still missing from the earlier attack.
Conflict with national government
Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai’s move to unveil a memorial plaque bearing names of 40 people believed to have died in the February killings put the county government in conflict with the national one, with the latter insisting that a search and rescue mission was still on for "missing persons".
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai unveiling a memorial monument at Todonyang mass grave site with 40 names of people killed during the attack by Dassenech militia from Ethiopia.
Photo credit: Pool
While defending the move to unveil the plaque, County Chief of Staff Peter Loyapan insited it was meant to honour those massacred by Ethiopian militiamen on February 22.
"The names were recorded by their kin who have never seen them up to now. The county government relied on information from survivors and relatives to conclude that they were massacred. The militia knew that the incident could have resulted in a diplomatic row and opted to hide bodies in reeds infested with wildlife," he said.
Turkana leaders at a memorial monument for 40 people who were killed during the attack by Dassenech militia from Ethiopia
Photo credit: Pool
He noted that it was the responsibility of the national government to give an update on the whereabouts of the missing people, whether dead or alive.
The last official update by authorities on the Todonyang killings was on March 7, 2025, when Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan indicated that 66 survivors had been rescued and 38 were still missing.
Mr Moses Ekai, a survivor, said that more than 40 were either butchered to death or shot.
"During the ambush, many who were fishing in the lake were hacked with pangas while running for their lives. More than 40 people I know have never been traced since the incident," Mr Ekai said.
A search and rescue mission launched by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen only managed to retrieve three bodies from the lake, with those who have missing kin recorded at the Kenya Red Cross Desk.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen when he arrived in Todonyang on the Kenya-Ethiopia border following Saturday's killing of Turkana residents.
Photo credit: Courtesy | Interior Ministry
Mr John Etir is yet to know whether his son is still missing or dead, as his body was never retrieved. His only evidence now is the plaque with the names of 40 people at the graveyard that was unveiled by Governor Lomorukai on April 3, 2025.
"At this graveyard, I have many people I know who have been buried. My son, Epao Yomer, is the latest victim of the militia attack. I have lost him," Mr Etir said.
