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A fresh wave of violence in Kitui County has triggered national concern after Senator Enoch Wambua called for urgent action following a series of deadly bandit attacks and rising insecurity in the region.
Addressing the Senate at the Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Wambua sought answers over the killing of seven people in Kwa Kamari, Tseikuru Ward, and the brutal slaying of a schoolboy in Ukasi, Nguni Ward.
The attacks, believed to have been carried out by armed bandits, have heightened fears among residents and exposed gaps in security response.
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The Senator told lawmakers that the seven victims were murdered on April 25, adding that earlier incidents in the same area involved attackers posing as camel herders. In a separate incident on April 28, a young schoolboy, James Mutemi, was fatally attacked while herding livestock in Mwingi Central.
Wambua warned that the situation is escalating beyond isolated crimes, noting that the latest killings have sparked unrest along the busy Garissa–Mwingi road. Angry residents blocked buses heading to Nairobi, demanding justice and protection. He cautioned that the violence risks creating a dangerous narrative of ethnic conflict between local communities, urging authorities to act swiftly to prevent tensions from spiralling.
“The responsibility now lies with the national security apparatus to contain the situation before it worsens,” he said, criticizing what he termed as slow and reactive responses to repeated attacks in Kitui. He also dismissed suggestions that residents should vacate certain areas as inadequate and insensitive to the gravity of the crisis.
The lawmaker has now tasked the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, chaired by Fatuma Dullo, to investigate the killings and outline measures taken by the Ministry of Interior and the National Police Service to arrest those responsible. The committee is also expected to propose both immediate and long-term strategies to curb banditry, strengthen border security, and improve coordination between counties during pursuit of criminals.
Additionally, the committee will examine how security resources can be increased in affected areas including Tseikuru, Ngomeni, Endau/Malalani, Mutha, and Kanziko wards, which have experienced repeated incursions. It will also explore regional cooperation to address cross-border movements by suspected bandits.
Wambua further called for support mechanisms for affected families, including compensation, livelihood restoration, and psychosocial assistance for communities traumatized by the attacks.
In a separate appeal, the Senator raised alarm over increasing human-wildlife conflict in the county, particularly involving elephants. He cited a recent incident in Ngali Village where a woman, Ms Kaviti Maithya, was attacked by a stray elephant and later died from her injuries at Kitui County Hospital.
The Senate Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, chaired by Mohamed Faki, has been directed to investigate the rising cases of wildlife invasions and the lack of preventive measures. The committee will also review delays in compensation for victims and assess strategies by the Kenya Wildlife Service to protect both residents and wildlife.
As pressure mounts, Wambua insists that the government must move beyond statements and deliver a lasting solution to insecurity and human-wildlife conflict in Kitui, warning that continued inaction could deepen the crisis.
