Two members of the National Police Reserve (NPR) were fatally shot during a confrontation with armed assailants in Kainuk village, Turkana County. The incident occurred in the Kaptir area of Aroo, following a banditry attack that saw livestock stolen from the region.
According to police reports, a joint security team comprising Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel based at Loyapat Camp and other officers was dispatched to track down the stolen animals. Upon reaching the Lokwar area near Lodwar Laga, the team deployed a drone to enhance surveillance and gather situational awareness. The aerial footage revealed a large herd of cattle being herded by several armed men suspected to be bandits.
The security personnel advanced toward the location to verify the situation, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire that lasted about five minutes. Once the shooting ceased, the officers discovered two bodies at the scene, both belonging to National Police Reservists. The deceased were identified as Eyapan Loluk Engyalan, armed with a G3 rifle loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition, and Lomongwas Ikari, armed with a G3 rifle containing 16 rounds. An additional pouch carrying 56 rounds of ammunition was recovered nearby.
Shortly after the shooting, tensions escalated when angry residents arrived at the scene, accusing the security forces of wrongfully killing the two officers. The crowd, which quickly grew in size, barricaded the Lodwar–Kapenguria highway and prevented the removal of the bodies.
Efforts by the security team to retrieve the remains were met with strong resistance from the locals, resulting in a standoff that stretched from Wednesday evening into Thursday. Reinforcement units sent to the scene were also repelled by the armed crowd, intensifying the chaos.
After hours of negotiation and tension, the bodies were eventually collected by security officers amid heavy hostility. The confrontation highlights the deep mistrust between local communities and security agencies in the region, where banditry and cattle rustling remain persistent threats despite ongoing government efforts to restore order.
