WEST POKOT, Kenya – A member of the National Police Reserve was shot dead in a bandit attack in West Pokot County, rekindling security concerns in a region that has battled sporadic violence despite ongoing government crackdowns.
Police identified the slain officer as Clement Lokwailap, who was ambushed while on patrol in the Apolo area of Keringet, Pokot Central Sub-County, on Saturday, February 1.
The attackers, whose identities remain unknown, shot him in the stomach and fled with his G3 rifle and two loaded magazines.
Lokwailap succumbed to his injuries at Ortum Missionary Hospital. His body has been transferred to Cheranganyi Nursing Home Mortuary for a postmortem.
The killing has heightened fears of retaliatory attacks in the volatile region, where banditry and cattle rustling have persisted despite intensified security operations.
Authorities have responded by ramping up patrols in the area, with additional personnel and equipment deployed to curb rising attacks.
Security officials say they are determined to prevent a resurgence of large-scale banditry, which had declined significantly over the past year under the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift.
Launched in February 2023, the multi-agency operation—led by the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)—has focused on disarming bandits and dismantling their networks across nine counties, including West Pokot, Baringo, Turkana, and Samburu.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the operation has yielded significant gains, with a 62% reduction in cattle rustling cases.
At least 172 illegal firearms were recovered in 2023, and more than 10,000 stolen livestock were reclaimed.
Security agencies have also made arrests, including 250 suspects linked to banditry, among them 14 political figures accused of fueling the insecurity.
In an effort to reinforce security, the government has restructured the National Police Reservist (NPR) program, recruiting and training 1,702 reservists last year.
An additional 400 reservists in Elgeyo Marakwet and Isiolo were re-armed to support ongoing operations.
Authorities have also introduced new administrative units in affected counties to improve governance and enhance security coordination at the grassroots level.
Despite these measures, banditry remains a persistent threat in parts of the North Rift, with recent incidents raising concerns about the resilience of criminal networks.
Security forces have vowed to track down Lokwailap’s killers and prevent further attacks, even as residents call for sustained government action to restore lasting peace.
