Tension escalated in Mwingi Town on Wednesday as businesses linked to Somali traders shut down, police engaged protesters in running battles, and bus companies suspended services along the Nairobi-Garissa Highway amid rising insecurity in the region.
The unrest followed public outrage over the killing of a 14-year-old school pupil in Ukasi, Nguni Ward, whose death has triggered protests and sharpened tensions over a wave of attacks blamed on suspected armed pastoralists.
Witnesses said anti-riot police were forced to fire tear gas and chase demonstrators in parts of Mwingi Town as angry residents poured into the streets, demanding justice and stronger security measures.
The protests spilled into Nguni, where businesses remained closed and residents staged demonstrations as pressure mounted on authorities to respond to worsening insecurity.
In a dramatic sign of the deepening crisis, Somali-owned businesses in Mwingi reportedly shut their doors as tensions rose, while transport operators moved to suspend services along the Nairobi-Garissa Highway, citing security concerns along the Mwingi-Garissa stretch and risks to passengers.
The suspension of bus services is expected to disrupt travel and commerce on one of the region’s critical transport corridors.
The latest unrest comes just days after seven people were killed in Kwa Kamari in Tseikuru in an attack linked to suspected armed pastoralists, raising fears that the violence is spreading and becoming harder to contain.
Residents say frustration has been building over repeated attacks, warning that public anger is now spilling beyond affected villages into major trading centres.
By Wednesday afternoon, Mwingi remained tense, with security officers deployed in key areas as authorities sought to contain the demonstrations.
The developments are likely to pile fresh pressure on the Interior Ministry and security agencies as calls grow for urgent intervention to restore calm and prevent further escalation.
