Meru: 4 shot dead in dawn raid by anti-terror police
A deadly dawn raid carried out by elite anti-terror forces has left four suspected bandits dead in Meru County, in what authorities are hailing as a major blow to criminal networks operating in the restive region.
The operation, launched in the early hours of Tuesday morning, May 13, 2025, at Kubisera village in Igembe, marks the latest strike in the country’s intensifying war on organised armed groups – some of which security sources say are beginning to blur the line between banditry and terrorism.
The four, believed to be part of a heavily armed gang that had been terrorising residents, were killed following a high-stakes intelligence-led operation involving multiple security agencies, including the Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) unit and local special forces.
The coordinated raid came after days of surveillance, tracking movements and intercepting communications around a makeshift camp used as a hideout and arms stash.
Officers recovered a cache of weapons following the early Tuesday morning raid.
“Our security officers continue to work day and night. This morning (Tuesday), Multi agency security teams acting on intelligence conducted a raid on a makeshift camp established by bandits at Kubisera village, Igembe. Our security team confronted and killed four armed bandits and recovered 6 AK rifles, 527 bullets, and 8 mobile phones,” Counter Terrorism Police in a statement on X.
The lethal takedown comes amid growing concerns that Kenya is facing a hybrid security threat, where traditional banditry is increasingly influenced – or even infiltrated – by jihadist elements, especially in counties bordering volatile regions like Somalia and South Sudan.
The dramatic gun battle in Meru is just the latest development in a widening crackdown that has seen anti-terror police launch a string of high-impact operations across the country.
Just last week, on May 8, 2025, special forces killed a suspected Al-Shabaab operative in Garissa County, foiling a potential terror attack along the Dadaab-Hagadera road.
In that incident, the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) recovered an arsenal of weapons, including a PKM machine gun, communication equipment, and an IED remote control – items pointing to a meticulously planned ambush aimed at both civilians and police convoys.
“ANOTHER TERRORIST NEUTRALISED BY ELITE SPECIAL FORCES On the morning of 8th May 2025, the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) neutralised an Al-Shabaab terrorist in Garissa while responding to reports by locals of militants attempting to plant IEDs along the Dadaab-Hagadera road targeting civilians and security vehicles. The SOG team tracked the four suspects , where one was neutralised and three others were injured during the fire exchange. The team is in hot pursuit of the others. Items recovered include a PKM machine gun, AK-47 rifle, pistol, communication radio, and an IED remote control. This operation adds to a series of successful missions in the region by SOG and other security agencies. Authorities commend locals for their timely & valuable information and encourage continued cooperation,” CTP wrote on X on May 8, 2025.
Security analysts say these recent raids are part of an evolving counterinsurgency approach that targets both urban terror cells and rural insurgent logistics hubs, where criminal groups stockpile weapons, recruit foot soldiers, and plan cross-county raids.
Tuesday’s raid in Meru County, authorities say, may have prevented a large-scale attack, though investigations are ongoing to confirm the suspects’ affiliations and long-term intentions.
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