Marsabit town was thrown into panic on Monday after officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) stormed the streets in a major security operation targeting armed gangs.
Residents watched in fear as gunfire filled the air, and heavily armed officers patrolled with fierce dogs in a bid to flush out criminals said to be behind a wave of violence in the region.
The tense operation began in the early hours of the morning, when security officers surrounded parts of the town believed to be hideouts for notorious gang members.
According to eyewitnesses, the officers fired several shots after a suspected gang leader tried to resist arrest. Reports indicate the suspect, who has been on police radar for months, was shot as he attempted to flee. His condition remains unclear as police whisked him away under heavy guard.
Traders were forced to close their shops as the sound of bullets rang out, while parents rushed to pick up their children from schools for fear of being caught in the crossfire. Residents said it has been long since they witnessed such a heavy presence of security personnel in Marsabit.
Local leaders have welcomed the crackdown, saying it was necessary to deal with rising cases of armed robberies, cattle raids, and killings that have left many families in mourning. They however urged officers to conduct the operation with caution to avoid harming innocent people.
Security officials confirmed that the operation will continue until all illegal firearms are recovered and peace is restored. They assured the public that the government is determined to dismantle criminal gangs that have turned Marsabit into a battlefield.
The deployment of GSU officers and police dogs is seen as a clear message from authorities that the state will not tolerate lawlessness. Residents now hope the exercise will bring back calm in the troubled town, where fear and tension have become part of daily life.
By Nairobi