A police reservist was shot and killed in an ambush in Walda, Sololo area of Marsabit County, in the latest incident highlighting the ongoing insecurity in the region.

Wako Abduba, a member of the National Police Reserve, was gunned down by unknown attackers early Wednesday morning.

His body was found with a G3 rifle, two magazines, and 32 rounds of ammunition still intact, indicating that the motive behind the attack was not robbery.

Police said he had been shot in the back, and his motorcycle was recovered a few meters from the scene.

His colleague, who went missing during the attack, was later found alive several kilometres away.

The incident has heightened tensions in the area, which has been under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, a multi-agency security campaign launched in 2024 to curb cattle rustling and restore order in northern Kenya.

The operation covers Marsabit, Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Meru, and Isiolo counties.

Two weeks ago, armed raiders attacked a village in Loiyangalani, Marsabit, killing two herders and injuring two others in Marti area.

The attackers stole an unknown number of shoats but were later repelled by police who managed to recover the stolen livestock after a gunfight. The injured victims are in critical condition in hospital.

Security agencies say a manhunt is underway for the killers of the police reservist, even as fears of retaliatory attacks grow.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government is determined to end the cycle of violence by tackling both the criminals and the systems supporting cattle rustling.

“We are coming to dismantle not only the criminals themselves but also the entire chain that supports the cattle and livestock rustling industry,” said Murkomen.

He said authorities are also focusing on long-term interventions, including subsidized farm inputs and agricultural extension services, to revive farming and give communities alternative sources of income.

Fresh vetting of all National Police Reservists in the region has also been ordered as part of the effort to strengthen the ongoing operations.