Three Men Shot Dead in Trans Nzoia Forest Ambush

 

By Vivian Anyango

 Three men, including a Ugandan national, were shot dead in a brazen forest ambush in Kibosit Forest on Saturday morning, in what police suspect to be a premeditated attack linked to forest resource conflicts.

The gruesome discovery was made by villagers who stumbled upon the lifeless bodies, riddled with multiple gunshot wounds. A fourth man, who narrowly escaped death, is recuperating at a local hospital and has provided police with a chilling account of the incident.

The survivor, whose identity has been withheld for security reasons, recounted that the group had entered the forest early that morning to burn charcoal—an activity that sustains many livelihoods in the region. Without warning, they were ambushed by a group of eight armed assailants believed to have been lying in wait.

“They didn’t say a word before they opened fire,” he told police from his hospital bed, describing a sudden and terrifying attack. “We had no chance to run.”

According to Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi, the attackers fired at close range, suggesting the killings were deliberate. Strikingly, none of the victims’ belongings were stolen, a detail that has fueled speculation that the motive may lie in simmering disputes over charcoal trade routes, land ownership, or forest access.

Authorities are now working closely with Ugandan officials to identify the deceased foreign national and notify his family. The presence of a cross-border victim has added complexity to the investigation, raising fears of growing tensions along the Kenya-Uganda border.

Security has been ramped up in the area as a manhunt for the attackers intensifies. Commissioner Oyagi confirmed that security patrols have been increased, particularly in remote forest zones known for their vulnerability to illegal activity.

“The government is treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves. We will not rest until the perpetrators are apprehended and justice is served,” Oyagi stated.

Community leaders and residents have expressed shock and outrage over the killings. They are urging the government to heighten security measures and regulate access to forested areas, which have long been linked to illicit logging, poaching, and now, increasingly violent territorial disputes.

“We are living in fear. These forests are our source of livelihood, but now they have become killing fields,” said Mary Wekesa, a local community leader. “We need protection.”