Police officer shot dead
A police officer tragically lost his life in an ambush by gunmen suspected to be members of al-Shabaab in the Dagahaley area of Wajir County.
The incident took place on the evening of Wednesday, October 22, 2025, when the fallen officer, Constable Elijah Orwa, along with two of his colleagues, responded to reports of gunfire. They were accompanied by two members of the National Police Reserve, according to police sources.
Authorities stated that the group was alerted to a shooting incident along the Dagahaley–Mathabaquay route when they headed to the scene. Upon arriving in a private salon car, they were met with an ambush from gunmen who had been lying in wait, leading to a fierce shootout.
The ambush occurred after the driver halted the vehicle, forcing the officers to seek cover in nearby bushes. It was during this chaotic moment that Constable Orwa was discovered lying in a pool of blood next to his rifle, which was fully loaded with 30 rounds and three pouches.
The team remained at the scene with Orwa’s body for several hours, anxiously awaiting reinforcements, as they feared the gunmen were still lurking nearby, ready to strike again.
These attackers are believed to be affiliated with the al-Shabaab terror group, which has been active in the region despite ongoing military operations aimed at curbing their activities. This group is notorious for crossing the porous Kenya–Somalia border to carry out such attacks.
In response to these incidents, police have ramped up operations in the area, which has resulted in a decrease in attacks that previously plagued the region, impacting its overall economic growth.
Officials have indicated that most of the assailants are linked to the al-Shabaab terror group and their local collaborators.
Since the fall of President Siad Barre’s military regime in 1991, Somalia has struggled to establish a stable central government, leading to over two decades of chaos and conflict, deeply rooted in clan divisions.
Kenya kicked off Operation Linda Nchi on October 14, 2011, in response to the alarming kidnapping of tourists along the Coast. The government viewed this as a serious threat to the nation’s sovereignty and its vital tourism industry.
The military’s move into southern Somalia was prompted by the abduction of two Spanish women who were working with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) at the Dadaab refugee camp.
These kidnappings were executed by militants, and the troops were deployed to confront them as part of Operation Linda Nchi.
Police officer shot dead
