Kenyan police have arrested three suspects and recovered an assortment of crude weapons during an intelligence-led operation in Garissa Town as authorities intensify efforts to combat rising youth violence and gang-related crime in the county.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), officers from Garissa Police Station carried out the operation on Tuesday, July 8, 2026, in the Bulla Sagarey area after receiving intelligence that a group was planning to carry out criminal activities.
Police said the three suspects were part of a group of nine individuals allegedly preparing to commit criminal offences. Officers attempted to arrest the group, but the suspects reportedly resisted and violently confronted the police, injuring several officers during the operation before six suspects managed to escape.
Security personnel recovered assorted crude weapons believed to have been intended for use in criminal activities. The three arrested suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court to face relevant charges, while an active manhunt is underway for the remaining six suspects.
The latest arrests come as security agencies step up operations across Garissa following a recent increase in violent incidents linked to teenage and youth gangs.
The surge in attacks involving crude weapons has raised growing concern among residents and local leaders, prompting authorities to increase patrols, conduct intelligence-led raids, and target known crime hotspots.
The National Police Service urged members of the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement by reporting suspicious individuals and criminal activities, emphasizing that community support remains vital to dismantling criminal networks and restoring public safety across Garissa County.