Kenya, 24 October 2025 - Authorities have launched investigations into the killing of two National Police Reservists (NPRs) in Kainuk, Turkana County, amid growing public anger and questions over the conduct of security operations in the volatile North Rift region. The incident occurred on Thursday evening in the Kaptir area of Aroo, when a team of NPR officers reportedly came under fire while responding to a sighting of armed herders guarding stolen cattle. Police have identified the two slain officers as Eyapan Loluk Engyalan and Lomongwas Ikari, both attached to the Kainuk security unit.
According to a police incident report, the NPR team was ambushed “as they approached a group of armed individuals near a grazing field,” prompting an exchange of gunfire. Their bodies were recovered after a tense standoff with locals who initially blocked access to the scene. Security teams later retrieved two rifles and 56 rounds of ammunition. The killings sparked protests in Kaputir, with residents demanding justice and accusing state officers of negligence. Videos circulating on social media showed groups of youth blocking roads and chanting against what they termed rising insecurity and poor coordination among security agencies.
In a statement on Friday, Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai condemned the killings and urged calm, calling on the national government to conduct a transparent investigation.“I condemn the killing of two National Police Reservists allegedly shot by Kenya Defence Forces personnel in Kaptir. Let us remain united even as we demand justice for our fallen officers,”
Governor Lomorukai said in a message posted on his official Facebook page.
A region scarred by recurring violence
The Kainuk–Kaputir corridor has long been a flashpoint for banditry, cattle rustling, and armed conflict along the border of Turkana and West Pokot counties. Security agencies operating under the government’s Operation Maliza Uhalifu have struggled to contain violence despite increased deployments of police, NPR, and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers.
Just last year, several NPRs were killed in similar ambushes, raising concerns about training, coordination, and communication between joint forces in the region. Human-rights groups have also warned that misidentification during raids often escalates tension between security personnel and local communities. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over the current case, while the Ministry of Interior says it is reviewing operational protocols to prevent such incidents.
Seeking trust amid fear
For many residents of Turkana South, the deaths highlight a painful paradox, those meant to protect the community becoming victims of the same insecurity they fight daily. “People are hurting,” said a local community leader during the Kaputir protest. “We just want answers and accountability.” As investigations continue, Turkana leaders are urging restraint and unity, even as the families of the slain reservists prepare for burial, mourning yet another reminder of the human cost of Kenya’s long struggle against banditry in its northern frontier.
