A 40-year-old man suspected of robbery with violence has been arrested in Turkana County, in a significant breakthrough for police grappling with escalating insecurity in the region. The arrest, made following a public tip-off, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and several other stolen items, as authorities intensify efforts to combat violent crime in Lokichar township and its environs.
According to police reports, officers from Lokichar Police Station apprehended the suspect and conducted a follow-up search at his residence in Kapese village. The operation resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a loaded magazine with seven rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, and various stolen property including multiple motorcycle frames, a car wash pressure pump, a solar inverter, and a white Tata double cab.
The suspect is believed to be linked to a series of recent robberies in the area and is expected to be charged with robbery with violence as investigations continue.
Turkana County has been experiencing a worrying spike in robberies, some involving violence, prompting heightened police activity. The arrest underscores the impact of collaboration between law enforcement and the local community in tackling crime.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Samburu County, gunmen raided Longewan village in Suguta Marmar and stole 41 goats. The armed trio fired shots in the air before escaping with the livestock. Despite a search operation launched by the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, no arrests or recoveries have been made.
These incidents come as the government intensifies Operation Maliza Uhalifu Phase Two, a joint security initiative involving the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), aimed at restoring peace in the volatile North Rift region. The operation, launched by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, covers parts of Samburu, Laikipia, Turkana, Isiolo, West Pokot, Meru, Baringo, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
The new command center for the operation is based in Kirimon, Laikipia County, and aims to leverage advanced technology to suppress banditry and restore normalcy. The government has pledged to equip security teams with modern tools and work closely with local administration officers to ensure lasting peace in the region.
