Tension in Isiolo has escalated after local leaders issued Samburu herders a 48-hour notice to leave grazing zones in Chari ward, saying armed groups moved into the area without any agreement and have stirred fresh fear among residents already affected by repeated raids.
The leaders said the presence of the herders had worsened insecurity in parts of Merti Sub-County, where attacks have continued for weeks.
Governor Abdi Guyo and Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya said the situation needed urgent government attention, warning that more families could be exposed to danger if nothing is done.
“We have agreed that everyone must return to their side of the border. Our neighbours from Samburu East should go back to their boundary. If they need a grazing area, let them sit with Chari elders and agree. But acts of force and acts of violence, we have said, we cannot allow. We cannot accept our people being killed recklessly,” Abdi said.
Bonaya said insecurity had made it difficult for herders to survive in the grazing fields.
“The challenges are many, and insecurity is the main issue. They have realised it is very difficult to keep their animals in this area if there is not enough security to protect their livestock against attacks, like what happened recently," she said.
Their remarks came after three National Police Reserve officers were killed on Saturday night at Madhi Qarsa Village, where they had been guarding livestock before being struck by armed men.
Isiolo leaders led by Governor Abdi Guyo and Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya, when they visited Kuro Bisan Owo Springs and the Chari Grazing Belt to console families affected by the recent attacks on December 2, 2025.PHOTO/X
Merti Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Michael Kioni said the officers had tried to pull back but were pursued by attackers believed to have crossed from Samburu County.
“They had been advised to retreat, but the bandits followed them and ambushed them when they stopped somewhere to make some tea,” he said. He added that steps were being taken to stabilise the area.
The killing happened a day after three people were shot dead and others wounded in Meru. On Sunday evening, two more people died and another was injured during an attempted livestock theft in Kom area of Merti.
Reports from locals showed that more than 100 armed raiders entered Isiolo from Samburu East and Laisamis, nearly driving away hundreds of cattle and goats before NPR officers blocked them at Madho Qarsa near Biliko Marara trading centre.
The two victims were buried on Monday at Biliko trading centre in a ceremony attended by Chari MCA Abdullahi Golicha. The surviving man is receiving treatment at Merti Sub-County Hospital.
Isiolo County Police Commander Paul Wambugu said more officers had been sent to assess the situation and increase patrols.
The latest attacks follow a series of deadly clashes in the region. In mid-October, seven people were killed in separate incidents. On October 17, two road workers upgrading the Gotu–Merti road were shot dead.
Two days later, five people were killed in an operation involving security officers after a confrontation between Isiolo herders and migrant herders from Samburu East, who drove away hundreds of cattle.
On Monday, leaders accused the Interior Ministry of ignoring their repeated calls to address insecurity in lower Merti. They said herders had been forced to abandon Kom, Biliko, Sabarwawa and Quri Bisanowo due to fear of attacks.
MCA Abdullahi said the latest victims were young men moving livestock to safer ground when they encountered armed raiders.
Borana Council of Elders chairman Mohammed Konso Hallo and Cherab MCA Halima Abgudo also criticised the security team in the area, saying it had not detected the raiders who struck deep inside Isiolo.
“In mid-October, the security team killed five people in the area while locals were trying to protect their animals from being stolen, yet this time they did not detect the bandits who entered deep inside Isiolo to kill and steal our livestock,” Mohammed said.
The leaders said their appeals date back to the period when Kithure Kindiki headed the Interior Ministry but had never been acted on.
Nearly 20 people have been killed since mid-year in crimes linked to livestock theft in Chaffa Gafarsa, Gotu and Baranbate on the eastern side of the Ewaso Nyiro River. The leaders said they could not understand how traders still faced attacks while police posts were nearby.
Two weeks ago, 170 cattle headed to the region’s main livestock market were stolen near a police barrier on the Isiolo–Moyale highway.
Two people were shot during the raid. In September, hundreds of cattle meant for the next day’s sale were taken from inside the yard, leaving one person dead. Most of the animals were later recovered.
