Security agencies were warned of the Samburu attack that killed six persons last week, raising questions on whether their alert was heeded.

Intelligence briefs seen by The Standard reveal the National Intelligence Services (NIS) warned of the March 10 attack in Kilepoi, Baragoi a day before the raid.

In the brief received and signed by Samburu County security chiefs, intelligence officers had stated that some 100 bandits from one of the conflicting communities had planned a retaliatory attack targeting livestock.

The same brief alerted the security chiefs of another group of about 30 heavily armed bandits who had planned a similar raid. Intelligence officers urged more vigilance and enhanced “patrols to prevent the attacks” in future.

Intelligence officers issued a warning two days later of a retaliatory attack, alerting agencies that some 200 armed bandits from another community were planning a raid.

The Standard could not immediately verify whether security agencies acted upon the intelligence reports or ignored them. It is not uncommon for bandit attacks to happen despite warnings, owing to the sporadic nature of the raids.

Eight people were injured in the March 10 attack, with more than 500 livestock stolen. Alarmed by the growing attacks, professionals from Turkana last week decried what they termed a sluggish action by security personnel to the attacks.

They were concerned that such an attack would happen in Kilepoi, Baragoi, which enjoys a significant presence of security personnel, and demanded that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen reshuffle the county’s security team.

“The sluggish and ineffective action from these security organs raises grave concerns about their commitment to their constitutional duty to protect lives and property. The continued failure of the national government to fortify security in these conflict-prone areas has created a fertile breeding ground for terror, lawlessness and impunity.” Ernest Nadome, the chairperson of the group of professionals said at a press briefing in Nairobi.

Since January, 11 people have died in the volatile region in which a joint security operation, led by the Kenya Police Service and supported by Kenya Defence Forces and police reservists, has been ongoing since February 2023.

The National Assembly approved the deployment of the KDF in the strife-torn North Rift to help tame widespread banditry. President William Ruto ordered the deployment in six bandit-hit counties after 100 civilians and 16 police officers were killed by bandits in a span of six months.

The counties – Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu – have perennially witnessed high levels of banditry, with successive regimes failing to tame the vice.

In recent months, the government has consistently claimed to be winning the fight against banditry, with sporadic attacks casting doubt on such assertions.