Police call for calm after deadly Mwingi attack leaves 7 dead
Inspector General Douglas Kanja condemned the killings, linking them to a pattern of retaliatory attacks between Kamba and Somali communities in the region.
The National Police Service (NPS) has called for calm following a deadly attack in Kwa Kamari village, Tseikuru, in Mwingi North, Kitui county where seven people were killed on Saturday evening.
The NPS urged residents to maintain peace and avoid retaliatory actions, while calling on community leaders to promote reconciliation and cohesion.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja condemned the killings, linking them to a pattern of retaliatory attacks between Kamba and Somali communities in the region.
According to a statement issued by Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, the violence was sparked by the killing of a 44-year-old Kamba herdsman near Mwingi Game Reserve on March 29, 2026. The following day, four members of the Somali community were killed in what is believed to have been a retaliatory attack.
On April 25, 2026, seven people from the Kamba community were killed in the Kwa Kamari area.
The National Police Service said it was deeply perturbed by the latest killings in Tseikuru, noting that investigations point to a recurring pattern of retaliatory violence between the Kamba and Somali communities.
“A chronology of criminal attacks points to a pattern of retaliatory violence involving the two communities—the Kamba and the Somali—which must not only be condemned but also stopped immediately,” the statement read.
The NPS added that the incidents would be thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.
A high-level security team has since been deployed to the area, with additional reinforcements sent to restore order as investigations continue.
Security agencies have also intensified patrols in Tseikuru and surrounding areas amid concerns that the region remains volatile due to ongoing tensions linked to competition over pasture and water.
According to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the crisis is rooted in fierce competition for dwindling resources—particularly grazing land and water—compounded by the persistent effects of recurring droughts.