Crime sceneThree men were found shot dead in Kibosit Forest, Chepchoina, Trans Nzoia County, on June 21, triggering anger and tensions between locals and security agencies.
The victims — identified as Emmanuel Wanyonyi Wafula, 73, Samuel Barasa Wanyonyi, 22, and Nabende Mukulo, a Ugandan national — were discovered with multiple gunshot wounds. According to police all three appeared to have been shot at close range.
A survivor of the attack said the group was preparing charcoal in the forest when eight armed men ambushed them. The survivor managed to escape and alerted villagers.
Police and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers, responding to the scene, came under attack as they tried to recover the bodies.
An angry mob confronted the team, forcing officers to fire warning shots in the air before finally retrieving the victims and transporting them to the mortuary.
At one point, four officers were separated from the main group but were later found safe.
Local residents have accused security agencies of being involved in the shootings, claims that authorities have yet to confirm.
Police have launched an investigation into the tragedy, while tensions remain high in the area amid fears of further protests.
The killings come as authorities intensify efforts to protect forests from illegal charcoal burning and deforestation—an ongoing challenge across many forested areas.
Despite long-running campaigns to end the practice, it remains widespread, often putting locals in direct conflict with authorities.
