ISIOLO, Kenya — A senior police officer who reportedly served in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti has been killed alongside four other people in a suspected bandit ambush in Gotu, Isiolo County.
Chief Inspector Adan Isaak Somo, attached to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), was among two police officers killed when a team pursuing suspected livestock thieves came under attack on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The other victims were an ASTU officer, a member of the National Police Reserve (NPR) and two civilians, according to police and local authorities.
Haiti Mission Veteran Among Dead
Somo was reportedly among Kenyan officers who served in Haiti before returning to the country.
Colleagues identified him as a Chief Inspector who had previously served under the MSS mission, where Kenyan police officers were deployed to support efforts to combat armed gangs.
However, current reporting said the National Police Service had not officially confirmed Somo’s reported Haiti deployment or identity at the time of publication.
His death has drawn attention because of the contrast between his overseas security deployment and his subsequent death while confronting banditry in northern Kenya.
Police Team Ambushed in Gotu
The officers and local residents were part of a team pursuing suspected livestock thieves when armed attackers ambushed them in Gotu.
Police said the team had been responding to a livestock theft incident when the attackers opened fire.
The assailants fled before responding security officers reached the scene, according to police reports. Eastern Regional Police Commander Stephen Chebet subsequently led a security team to the area as authorities began efforts to trace those responsible.
Other reports said the team had also been involved in searching for the body of an elderly man who had gone missing in the area. The circumstances surrounding the search and the livestock theft were being investigated.
Five People Killed in Attack
The attack left five people dead, including two ASTU officers.
The other victims were an NPR member and two civilians.
The killings have renewed concern over insecurity in Gotu, an area that has experienced recurring incidents of cattle rustling and armed banditry.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo described Gotu as a security hotspot and called for urgent intervention following the killings.
Governor Guyo Condemns Killings
Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo condemned the attack and called for stronger security measures in Gotu and neighbouring areas.
Guyo said the repeated attacks were causing fear among residents, disrupting livelihoods and undermining efforts to maintain peace in local communities.
“I strongly condemn the latest bandit attack in the Gotu area that has claimed the lives of five people, including two police officers,” Guyo said.
The governor urged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and national security agencies to strengthen patrols, intelligence gathering and security operations in the area.
He also called for action against those responsible for the killings.
Attack Comes After Cattle Theft in Meru
The Gotu attack came a day after a separate cattle-rustling incident in Igembe Central, Meru County.
More than 120 cattle were reportedly stolen during the incident, while a herdsman identified as Haron Mwira was shot in the left knee.
Mwira later died from excessive blood loss while receiving treatment, according to reports.
The incident has added to concerns over a resurgence of cattle theft and armed attacks across parts of Isiolo and neighbouring counties.
Security Operation Intensified
Isiolo and Meru are among the counties covered by Operation Maliza Uhalifu, a government security operation targeting banditry and cattle rustling.
The operation also covers Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu and Marsabit counties.
Following the Gotu attack, security teams were deployed to the area as authorities pursued the suspected attackers.
The latest killings are expected to increase pressure on national security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and security patrols in the region while addressing the recurring livestock-related conflicts that have contributed to insecurity.
