Incoming Kitui County Women Representative Hon. Agnes Mawia has condemned the armed bandit attack at Mandongoi area in Ngomeni, Mwingi North, where a man was shot and seriously wounded less than a week after the government disarmed the local Kenya Police Reservists squad.
Speaking after the incident, Hon. Mawia faulted the government’s decision to disband KPR officers, warning that the move has left residents exposed to escalating insecurity. She said bandits have turned the area into their playground, terrorizing locals with unchecked impunity and exploiting the security vacuum left by the withdrawal of reservists.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Mwingi Level Four Hospital. Residents say armed attackers have been raiding villages in Ngomeni, stealing livestock and injuring civilians, with little deterrence since the KPR units were withdrawn.
Mawia called for the urgent reinstatement and re-arming of vetted KPR officers, arguing that reservists understand the terrain and have historically been critical in repelling bandit raids in Mwingi North. She urged the Ministry of Interior to reassess the disarmament directive, noting that the timing has coincided with a spike in attacks that threatens livelihoods and access to schools and markets.
The incoming Women Rep further appealed to security agencies to deploy more personnel and intensify patrols along the Kitui-Tana River border, where bandit incursions are most frequent. She emphasized that community policing structures must be strengthened, not dismantled, if lasting peace is to be achieved.
Local leaders and residents have echoed her concerns, citing increased fear among families in Mandongoi and neighboring villages. As the injured man continues to recuperate, Mawia pledged to follow up with national authorities to ensure victims get support and that concrete measures are taken to restore security in Mwingi North.
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