Catholic Archbishop of Nairobi, Bishop Philip Anyolo, has cautioned political leaders and the public against politicising the recent deadly attack in Tseikuru, Kitui County.

The attacks have left seven people dead, and the clergy has called for calm, restraint, and urgent government intervention to end escalating inter-community violence.

Speaking during a press briefing on Saturday, May 2, 2026, Bishop Anyolo expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Tseikuru Sub-county, where retaliatory attacks have claimed at least 12 lives over the past month, according to the National Police Service (NPS).

“We ask the government to take this matter seriously. We have heard that it involves conflict between the Kamba and Somali communities over grazing land for cattle and camels. It is not that camels and cattle are fighting; it is people who are fighting,” he said.

The bishop stressed that the human cost of the violence must remain the central concern, warning against narratives that risk inflaming tensions further.

“People are the ones suffering, and it reflects very badly on our leaders in the affected area. Let us find a solution, and let us not make much political hype that causes conflict,” he added.

His remarks come amid rising national concern following a series of retaliatory attacks in Tseikuru, which authorities say are part of a worrying cycle of revenge killings between members of the communities in the region.

In a statement released on Sunday, April 26, 2026, the NPS said it was deeply perturbed by the violence and confirmed that investigations were ongoing to restore order in the affected areas.

According to the police, the violence began on March 29, 2026, when a 44-year-old herdsman was killed near Mwingi Game Reserve. The following day, suspected retaliatory attacks left four members of the neighbouring community dead.

“A chronology of criminal attacks below points to a pattern of retaliatory attacks involving two communities, which must not only be condemned but also stopped immediately,” the statement read.

Kalonzo condemns the attacks

The police have since appealed for calm and restraint among residents, warning against revenge attacks that could worsen the already fragile security situation in the region.

Meanwhile, political leaders have weighed in on the incident, with Wiper Patriotic Front leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka strongly criticising the government’s handling of security in the region. He alleged that armed attackers moved freely across county borders during the raid and questioned the effectiveness of intelligence and security response.

Kalonzo described the killings as ‘a governance failure of the gravest order’, saying that residents were left vulnerable despite prior warnings of rising tensions.

However, Bishop Anyolo’s intervention has shifted attention toward reconciliation and dialogue, urging leaders to avoid inflammatory statements that could deepen ethnic divisions.

Religious leaders and peace actors in the region have also called for urgent mediation efforts to address long-standing disputes over grazing land, which continues to fuel tensions between pastoralist communities.