KITUI, Kenya — The National Police Service (NPS) has announced plans to establish permanent security camps in parts of Kitui County following a series of deadly retaliatory attacks that have heightened insecurity and disrupted livelihoods in the region.
The decision was reached during a high-level security meeting held on Saturday, June 6, bringing together senior police commanders and security officials to address the escalating violence.
The meeting was led by Patrick Tito, Principal Deputy to the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service, and included senior officers from the Administration Police Service, General Service Unit, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the NPS said the proposed security camps will strengthen surveillance, improve response times, and enhance the protection of residents living in affected areas.
“The delegation also informed the community of plans to establish strategic security camps in the region to enhance surveillance, rapid response, and overall security,” the police said.
According to police records, tensions escalated after a 44-year-old herder was killed near the Mwingi Game Reserve on March 1 in an attack allegedly involving Somali herdsmen.
The killing triggered a cycle of reprisals. On March 30, members of one community launched a retaliatory attack that left at least four people from a rival group dead. Further violence was later reported in Kwa Kamari village in Tseikuru.
The security situation deteriorated further on April 26 when seven people were killed during an attack targeting residents in Mwingi. Several houses were also set ablaze.
Days later, two more people, including a minor, lost their lives in another attack in the same region, raising fears of an escalating conflict.
The violence sparked protests by residents who accused authorities of failing to provide adequate security. Demonstrations disrupted traffic along the Mwingi-Garissa road, forcing some transport operators to suspend services due to safety concerns.
Security officials have assured residents that the government is committed to restoring peace and preventing further attacks through increased deployment of officers and enhanced intelligence gathering.
The establishment of permanent security camps is expected to provide a sustained security presence in hotspots that have experienced repeated clashes, while improving coordination among various security agencies operating in the region.
Local leaders and residents have previously called for a stronger security presence, arguing that temporary deployments have not been sufficient to deter armed attacks and protect vulnerable communities.
The latest intervention comes as the government intensifies efforts to address insecurity in pastoral and border regions, where competition over resources, livestock theft, and long-standing community disputes have frequently triggered violent confrontations.
Authorities have urged residents to cooperate with security agencies and report suspicious activities as investigations into the recent attacks continue.
