Two construction workers lost their lives in a shooting incident believed to have been carried out by fleeing bandits at a construction site in the Mutuati area of Meru County.
The attack took place on a private farm in Kamongombe, located in the Amwathi 1 sub-location within Kabachi. According to police reports, the victims were part of a group of seven workers building a wall when the gunmen struck on Tuesday evening.
The attackers opened fire indiscriminately, killing George Odhiambo, 27, and Mateta M’kiuga, 60. The other workers managed to hide in fear but were unharmed.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the assailants and are working to determine the motive behind the attack. It is suspected that the gunmen were targeting livestock in the area before turning on the workers.
This region has recently become a hotspot for bandit activity, with raiders frequently stealing livestock and leaving behind casualties among local herders. The rising violence has sparked growing concerns and calls for stronger action to stop the raids.
The victims’ bodies were taken to Nyambene Sub-County Hospital, where postmortems will be conducted.
In response to the growing insecurity, the government has stepped up efforts to combat banditry by increasing personnel and resources in affected areas. The region is under an ongoing police operation aimed at retrieving illegal weapons from civilians.
The operation, which began three months ago, involves multiple agencies working across several counties, including Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru, and Isiolo.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki emphasized the government’s broader strategy to address the root causes of banditry. He highlighted plans to boost local agricultural efforts by providing subsidized inputs and extension services as a means of supporting communities.
“We’re not just dismantling the criminals involved in cattle rustling; we’re dismantling the entire network that sustains this illicit trade,” Kindiki said.