Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua has sought answers regarding the horrific killing of seven people in Kwa Kamari, Tseikuru Ward, Kitui County, by bandits on Saturday, 25 April 2026 and the killing of a schoolboy in Ukasi, Nguni Ward, Kitui County by bandits on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
According to parliamentary records, Senator Wambua told the Senate that seven people were brutally murdered in Kwa Kamari, Tseikuru Ward, Kitui County, by bandits on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Senator Wambua added that a couple of weeks earlier, a young man was murdered by bandits masquerading as camel herders in the same ward. A schoolboy, James Mutemi, of Kiio Village in Ukasi, Mwingi Central Constituency was slashed to death by bandits while herding the family livestock.
“This latest incident has triggered chaos on the Garissa–Mwingi Road, with enraged residents blocking Garissa–Nairobi-bound buses and demanding justice. A wrong but very dangerous impression is being created that the Kamba and the Somali communities are at war,” explained Sen. Wambua.
He added, “The ball is in the court of the national security apparatus to nip this perception in the bud before the situation gets out of control. The people of Kitui County continue to suffer repeated attacks, yet responses remain casual and reactionary. Casual statements suggesting that people should vacate game reserves in the county or that wild animals will be introduced into the reserves trivialise a very serious security problem.”
In his request for a statement, the Lawmaker wants the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to establish the measures undertaken by the Ministry of Interior and the National Police Service to apprehend the perpetrators of the Tseikuru killings, stop further attacks in Kitui County and outline plans to ensure adequate security personnel and resources are deployed to protect residents of Tseikuru, Ngomeni, Endau/Malalani, Mutha and Kanziko wards, among other affected border areas of Kitui County.
The committee is expected to provide immediate and long term strategies being implemented to curb banditry and cross border incursions by camel herders, including coordinated regional security operations.
It will also clarify the operational jurisdiction of county security officers when criminals flee into neighbouring counties and how inter county and regional coordination is being strengthened to ensure the effective pursuit and apprehension of culprits.
The committee, chaired by Senator Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) has also been tasked with providing a comprehensive plan for a lasting solution to banditry in Kitui County, beyond casual pronouncements.
The legislator further requires the committee to establish whether there are compensation and support mechanisms for victims’ families including livelihood restoration and psychosocial support for affected communities.
In a separate request, Senator Wambua has sought answers from the Senate Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources regarding human–wildlife conflict in Kitui County.
“Elephants have increasingly caused havoc and extensive destruction of crops, property and livelihoods in several areas of Kitui County. The most recent incident occurred on Saturday, 25 April 2026, at Ngali Village in Ilamba sub-location, Simisi Location, where a lady in her 50s, Ms Kaviti Maithya, was attacked by a stray elephant at around 7 p.m. at Ngali Shopping Centre, where she operated a kiosk,” stated Sen. Wambua.
He reported that the lady sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries and succumbed to them the following morning while undergoing treatment at Kitui County Hospital.
The Senator wants the Committee to find out the reasons for the lack of adequate mechanisms to prevent elephants from encroaching into residential areas and persistently invading homes, thereby posing a threat to residents of Kitui County.
The committee has also been tasked with addressing the issue of the compensation process for the family of Ms Kaviti Maithya and providing a report on all pending human wildlife conflict compensation claims in Kitui County, the reasons for delays in payment and the expected timelines for settling outstanding claims.
In addition, the committee, chaired by Senator Mohamed Faki (Mombasa) is expected to establish the strategies currently in place by the Kenya Wildlife Service and other relevant agencies to mitigate persistent human wildlife conflict caused by elephants and to explain why adequate action has not been taken to protect both elephants and local communities despite recurring invasions.