Meru: 4 shot dead in dawn raid by anti-terror police

In the early hours of 13 May 2025, an intelligence‑led dawn raid by Kenya’s elite counter‑terrorism forces in Kubisera village, Igembe sub-county, Meru County, resulted in four suspected bandits being shot dead. The multi‑agency operation, which included the Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) unit and local special forces, has been hailed by authorities as a decisive blow against organized armed groups threatening security in the region. K24 Digital+2The Star+2
According to a statement by CTP, the raid was based on days of surveillance, tracking suspected criminals’ movements, and intercepting communications. K24 Digital When officers stormed the hideout — described as a makeshift camp — a fierce gunfight ensued. Security forces recovered a significant weapons cache: six AK-47 rifles, 527 rounds of ammunition, and eight mobile phones, which are suspected to have been used in coordinating criminal activity. K24 Digital+1 The operation is part of a heightened government crackdown on banditry, especially in counties where criminal networks are believed to be evolving into hybrid threats with elements of terrorism.
The raid comes amid mounting public concern over rising insecurity in Meru and neighboring regions. Just weeks earlier, three National Police Reservists (NPRs) were fatally shot in Igembe North in a separate attack by armed raiders, raising the stakes for intensified counter‑banditry efforts. Nairobi Wire Local and national security officials have welcomed the Meru operation as a major victory, but analysts caution that illicit arms proliferation, political interference, and difficult terrain remain formidable obstacles.
Looking ahead, the government appears determined to sustain — and even expand — this aggressive approach. The Meru operation falls under Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift, a long-term security initiative launched to root out violent criminal networks in several counties. The Star Security leaders say they will continue using intelligence-driven raids, special forces units, and community cooperation to dismantle these groups, but they also stress the need for stronger local partnerships and greater public involvement to ensure lasting peace.