Narok County -A police shooting in Kenya’s famed Maasai Mara region has left several people dead and others injured, prompting a formal investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The incident occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, 5 June, in Lolkuruk Village, part of the Angama Conservancy in Narok County. Police allegedly opened fire on a group accused of trespassing on private land a claim that has yet to be independently verified.
Authorities have not released an official death toll, and the identities of the victims remain unknown.
The land in question lies within a high-end tourism zone known for its luxury lodges and protected wildlife areas. But for local communities, it’s also part of a landscape fraught with long-standing tensions over access, ownership, and displacement.
IPOA launches investigation
On Friday, IPOA Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan confirmed that a Rapid Response Team had been dispatched to the scene. The team will collect evidence, interview witnesses, and review whether the police followed lawful procedures.
“We have begun a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the use of force in this incident,” Mr Hassan said in a statement. “Our aim is to establish the facts, and where necessary, hold those responsible to account.”
He also extended condolences to the families of the deceased and those nursing injuries, urging the local community to remain calm.
“IPOA operates independently and without bias. We ask residents to give us space to carry out our work and promise transparency throughout the process,” he added.
A region on edge
Local sources say tension had been brewing in the area for months, as disputes over land access between pastoralist communities and private conservancies intensified.
Some residents claim the land was historically used for grazing but is now fenced off or controlled by private tourism ventures. Others argue that community members have been pushed out without proper consultation or compensation.
It remains unclear whether those shot on Thursday were armed, violent, or acting in self-defence. The police have yet to issue a formal account of the confrontation.
A senior official in Narok County, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said, “We’re walking a fine line between protecting property rights and respecting traditional land claims. It’s not black and white.”
Waiting for answers
The IPOA’s investigation comes at a time when the conduct of Kenyan security forces is under increased scrutiny. In recent years, the Authority has investigated several high-profile cases involving alleged excessive use of force, with mixed outcomes.
In this case, the stakes are especially high. Angama Mara, perched on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, is not just a symbol of luxury tourism it’s also a flashpoint in Kenya’s complex land politics, where conservation efforts sometimes collide with human livelihoods.
As the probe unfolds, families wait for answers, and a shaken community grapples with grief and uncertainty.
“People just want the truth,” said one local elder, speaking near the scene of the shooting. “We want peace, but peace needs justice too.”
