At least 20 fishermen killed in Merile attack

At least 20 fishermen were killed in an attack by gunmen believed to be from Ethiopia at the Todonyang border, Turkana County.

The incident happened on Saturday evening in Lopeimukay and Lotiira area, police said.

An unknown number of villagers were injured in the attack believed to be out of retaliation by Dassanech gang, police said.

Some of the injured were being evacuated, officials confirmed.

Police authorities said security teams are on the ground to get more information on the same.

Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Jasper Ombati said more personnel had been sent to the ground to ensure the safety of the locals.

“We are waiting for more information on the attack,” he said amid tension in the area.

Turkana North MP Ekwom Nabuin said they had disturbing reports of the killing of more than 20 fishermen in Todonyang area of Lake Turkana by the Dassanech of Ethiopia.

“The numbers could be higher. The situation is extremely bad, rescuers must move fast to secure our people. The massacre is happening on Kenyan soil which is occupied by well-armed Ethiopian militias (Dassanech),” he said in a post.

There were reports of more victims missing and efforts to trace and confirm the same were ongoing on Sunday. The area is poor infrastructure-wise.

The river where the incident happened extends from Ethiopia where the fishermen had ventured.

The tension had been growing in the area in the past weeks following the sighting of gunmen from Ethiopia.

They were seeking revenge, officials said.

A 24-year-old herder was shot and killed in an attack by gunmen on Wednesday evening in Merikuka village in Kokuro Location near Loyoro Fishing Site at the Kenya-Ethiopia border, Turkana County.

The body of Kai Ebu was found with a gunshot wound to the head. Ebu was grazing his calves in a grazing field along the bank of the Loyoro Rive when he was targeted and killed.

The motive of the attack is yet to be known. Police and villagers said he was attacked by raiders from the neighbouring Ethiopia who had been seen there earlier on.

The attackers escaped soon after the incident.

Multi-agency teams visited the scene and announced efforts to trace the attackers were ongoing.

The area has been facing different forms of insecurity from raiders. The raiders who target livestock include those from neighbouring countries.

As part of efforts to tame the practice, the government launched an operation covering other counties including Turkana.

This has seen some of the raiders escape to Ethiopia. They usually stage attacks in Kenya and escape.

Launched in February 2023, Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift is a government security initiative that targeted escalating banditry, cattle rustling, and violence in nine counties including Baringo, Turkana, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Marsabit, Laikipia, Isiolo, and Meru.

Hot spot areas in these counties were designated as “Disturbed” and “Dangerous,” in the operation that brought together the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in a coordinated effort to restore peace and stability in the region.

Security officers on the ground have effectively disarmed hundreds of bandits, dismantled their hideouts in the rugged terrain, and restored stability to affected communities.

To strengthen local security, the government has restructured the management and command of the National Police Reservists. In 2023, a total of 1,702 reservists were recruited and trained in Baringo, Samburu, Laikipia, Meru, Turkana, and West Pokot.

At least 400 reservists in Elgeyo Marakwet and Isiolo were re-armed to supplement the ongoing security operations in the area.

To enhance governance and improve service delivery, the Government gazetted 126 new administrative units across Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Turkana, Samburu, Meru, and Laikipia Counties.

This initiative is aimed at strengthening local administration, improving resource allocation, and enabling a more effective response to security challenges.