At least three suspected bandits were killed in a fierce shootout with security officers at Loima in Turkana.
The dramatic confrontation that happened Saturday evening at Kangalita in Kalemnyang also saw the recovery of an AK 47 rifle.
Among those killed, police say, is a notorious bandit who was wanted for multiple violent crimes.
He had three pending court cases of robbery with violence, gang rape and threatening to kill.
The 37-year-old was also under investigation for a series of “unresolved violent crimes, including highway robberies stock-theft and possession of illicit firearms for hire within Loima sub-county.”
His close associate and aide was also eliminated in the operation.
According to police, the 39-year-old has been on the run after the killing of a police officer at Kangalita three years ago, and an ambush on Lorugum OCS in December last year.
The third individual killed in the shootout was identified as 21-year-old Liya Logumo, an accomplice of the two notorious bandits.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to Lodwar County Referral Hospital pending post-mortem examination.
The magazine from the collected rifle had three rounds of ammunition.
The successful operation marks a significant step towards combating criminal activities and enhancing security in the area.
The National Police Service thanked the public for their continued cooperation in the ongoing efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the “Dangerous and Disturbed Zones” within the North Rift region.
The killing of the trio came a day after President William Ruto moved to assure Kenyans that peace will be restored in the North Rift, and across the country.
In a statement after meeting the country’s top security officials, including Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Ruto said his administration is determined to bring peace in all parts of the country that are prone to incidents of insecurity.
“We are determined to restore peace in the North Rift and all other parts of the country that have witnessed disturbance of peace. Received a brief on the security situation in the North Rift in a meeting with Interior and Administration of National Government officials,” Ruto said.
The meeting that included Inspector General Japhet Koome, and his two deputies Douglas Kanja and Noor Gabow on Saturday was held in Kilgoris.
