Outrage in South Turkana as KDF Soldiers Linked to Killing of Local Police Reservists
A wave of outrage has swept through South Turkana following allegations that Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers were responsible for the killing of two National Police Reservists (NPRs). The incident, which occurred in a remote village, has sparked protests and heightened tensions between the local community and the security forces deployed to pacify the bandit-prone region. The reservists were reportedly shot dead in an encounter that locals describe as unprovoked, leading to accusations of excessive force and friendly fire.
According to accounts from area leaders and family members, the two NPRs were on duty within their own village when the tragic shooting occurred. The circumstances leading to the confrontation remain unclear and are the subject of a high-level investigation. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has taken up the matter, demanding a swift and transparent probe into the deaths, which have left the community grieving and questioning the conduct of the ongoing security operation.
The military has yet to release an official statement detailing its account of the events. The incident has cast a pall over the multi-agency security mission in the North Rift, undermining the crucial trust between the community and the security forces. Local leaders are now calling for immediate accountability, compensation for the families of the deceased, and a clear framework of engagement to prevent such tragic occurrences in the future, as the region struggles to find a path toward sustainable peace.