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Residents abandon villages in Turkana as bandits take over
Transport paralysed along Lokichar-Kapenguria road on October 23, 2025 after residents blocked the road at Kaputir junction and Kalemngorok center to protest against insecurity.
Insecurity has worsened in the newly created Aroo Sub-County along the Turkana–West Pokot border, with families fleeing their homes, schools closing, and residents blocking roads in protest following a series of deadly bandit attacks targeting National Police Reservists (NPRs).
Residents say the violence has worsened despite the government’s promise that the new administrative unit would enhance security coordination.
The creation of Aroo Sub-County was meant to end decades of conflict along the volatile border. But months later, locals say it has only shifted focus away from a deepening insecurity crisis, with armed bandits now striking with impunity.
Aroo Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner's office at Kainuk town.
Border villages and trading centres, including Kapelbok, Nakwamoru, Lorogon, Kainuk, and Kaakong, are reporting increased bandit attacks, forcing families to flee and disrupting learning as national examinations approach.
In the latest attacks, Turkana County Police Commander John Tarus has confirmed that two reservists were shot dead on Wednesday evening near Kaputir Centre.
The two, Mr Lowas Ikari and Mr Eyapan Loluk from Nawoyaregae village in Kaputir Ward, had been providing security to farmers at the Lokwar irrigation scheme and were returning home when they were killed.
The incident sparked outrage among locals, who, from midnight, blocked the Kapenguria–Lokichar road at Kaputir Junction using burning tyres and thorny branches.
Transport paralysed along Lokichar-Kapenguria road on October 23, 2025 after residents blocked the road at Kaputir junction and Kalemngorok center to protest against insecurity.
Long queues of vehicles, including Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and trucks heading to Kakuma Refugee Camp and South Sudan, stretched for several kilometres.
“I left Lodwar at 3am and expected to reach Kitale by 10am for a meeting. As of 11am, I was still stranded at Kaputir Junction with no shops to buy food or drinks. I am hungry and thirsty and don’t know when the road will reopen,” said Mr Ian Temba, one of the stranded passengers.
Residents have reported an increase in raids and claim that the security officers of the new sub-county remain confined to Kainuk town.
Residents have recounted confrontations with officers who claim their mandate ends at the Kainuk cess point, effectively abandoning anyone beyond it.
“We have clashed with officers who tell us their mandate ends at the Kainuk checkpoint. So people like Mzee Emanikor, who was shot dead on October 9 while collecting firewood beyond the bridge, are left exposed,” said Ms Mary Ngilimo of Kainuk.
She said only four officers attended the burial of Mr Elpan Pachu, the only reservist in Kailoseget village, who was killed in September alongside Mr Isaac Ilikwel near River Malmalite.
“A police reservist was killed just behind Kainuk Police Station. The gun was recovered, but officers didn’t act or pursue the killers,” she said.
Ms Ngilimo said that poor relations between residents and administrators have worsened insecurity.
“I once reported a bandit who threatened to kill me while I was herding goats. I gave the police his name and direction, but nothing was done. Most of us are widows who just want peace to farm and run small businesses,” she said.
Mr Benson Loyanai, a Kaputir resident, said three reservists had been killed and one left with life-threatening injuries in recent weeks.
“Our sub-county is heavily militarised with several police units and Kenya Defence Forces soldiers, yet, together with a few armed reservists, we are being killed. This shows a lack of coordination among the multi-agency security team,” he said.
He added that vandalised institutions such as Nakuse and Lokwar primary schools, destroyed by bandits in 2023, had yet to be rebuilt despite government promises that the KDF would undertake reconstruction as part of a resettlement plan.
“Besides recruiting police reservists, we need a police post in the area. For now, we rely solely on reservists who are being killed by both bandits and security officers who mistake them for attackers,” said Mr Loyanai.
An armoured personnel carrier patrolling in Kainuk town.
In Nakwamoru village, parents have pulled children out of school for fear of attacks as national examinations approach.
“At Nakwamoru, one person was killed and another injured in an attack on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning, Moses Ekeru, a reservist from Kapelbok village, was shot while going to relieve himself. He is recovering at Lodwar County and Referral Hospital,” said Mr Samuel Abei, a Kapelbok resident.
“We thought the new sub-county would improve coordination, but the response from security personnel was sluggish in both cases.”
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai and Turkana South MP Ariko Namoit condemned the rising attacks, saying the presence of multiple security agencies in the area had not improved safety.
“We can’t sit back as our people are being killed every day. We are going to the affected areas, especially where police reservists were attacked,” said Mr Lomorukai.
Lorogon Comprehensive School in Lorogon border village that is prone to bandit attacks.
The governor added that the killing of police reservists had exposed a disconnect within the security apparatus.
“We need an emergency meeting to chart the way forward. Our people are dying from bandit attacks, stray bullets, drought, and disease,” he said.
“We don’t need many units in Kainuk, just one specialised force with clear orders… We appeal to President William Ruto to intervene urgently, as insecurity has escalated despite Operation Maliza Uhalifu.”
Dr Namoit said insecurity in Aroo had become “a pandemic”, worsened by poor coordination among security teams.
“We have been crying about this for months, but nothing has been done. We are witnessing a helicopter hovering and landing in bandit-held areas, and soon after, people nearby are attacked,” he said.
Lobokat Girls Secondary School in Kainuk. Bandits have established a new Kraal near the school.
Some residents believe the attacks are politically motivated, targeting communities perceived to have aligned themselves with Turkana County rather than West Pokot, and aimed at forcing border residents off their ancestral land.
“The bandits want to force us from our homes because we chose to remain in Turkana County. Attacks increased after we became part of the new Aroo Sub-County, whose headquarters are in Kainuk,” said Ms Leah Natuk, a Lorogon resident.
Governor Lomorukai accused Aroo Sub-County security officials of neglecting their duties.
“The sub-county team has failed to support the multi-agency operation to flush out bandits hiding in South Turkana National Reserve and near Lobokat Girls Secondary School. Instead, the Deputy County Commissioner is preoccupied with gold mining interests,” he said.
The governor said that when Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was serving as Interior Cabinet Secretary, he had declared the South Turkana National Reserve an active crime scene as bandits used it as a hideout.
“Criminals are killing innocent people and wildlife in a protected area meant to generate county revenue. We cannot even collect revenue there anymore. The order to vacate the reserve is still active, and I appeal [for the] transfer of Aroo Deputy County Commissioner Yusuf Salat, who has failed to prioritise security,” he said.
Governor Lomorukai also warned officers against intimidating women who speak out. “These women are not the problem; bandits are. Instead of silencing them, we should be listening to them,” he said.
Turkana County Commissioner Julius Kavita admitted that security in the area had deteriorated.
“I will be seeking support from the Council of Elders to help resolve the insecurity through community-led peace engagements,” he said.
