Loosuk, Samburu West Sub-County — At least 3,000 residents, encompassing women, children, and the elderly, took to the streets in Loosuk trading center to protest rampant insecurity following the killing of three herdsmen in a recent banditry raid.

According to Kenya News Agency, the attack also left six other herders seriously injured, and an undisclosed number of livestock were stolen. Those injured are currently receiving medical attention at Maralal Hospital.

The residents, led by Samburu Women Rep Pauline Lengures and area MCA Kaunda Lenamparasio, accused the government of failing to curtail the ongoing security issues. Lengures specifically called on President William Ruto to intervene immediately, citing that more than 100 people had already lost their lives and thousands of cattle had been stolen, with no subsequent recovery by local security forces based at Loosuk Pura and Longewan camps.

The demonstrators also criticized the Samburu County security team, led by County Commissioner Henry Wafula, for providing misleading information to the national government. According to Lengures, Wafula had falsely claimed that the stolen animals had been recovered and that the bodies of the deceased had been removed from the scene.

Both Lengures and Lenamparasio threatened legal action against the Minister for Interior, Kithure Kindiki, if no steps were taken to apprehend the responsible bandits and address the failing security measures in Pura and Nolkera. They claimed that the army stationed there had been ineffective in maintaining security in the region.

The tension remains palpable in Lolomolk, where the three young herdsmen were killed. An elder in the area, Nasha Learus, called upon President Ruto to visit the site of the killings to better understand the community’s concerns and grievances.