Security agencies in Vihiga County have launched a manhunt for suspects who attacked police officers guarding the Vihiga County Assembly on Wednesday January 14, 2026 in the morning. 

One officer was injured during the attack, and the assailants made away with a firearm.

Confirming the incident, Vihiga County Commissioner Peter Maina said the attack occurred in the wee hours of the morning. 

He explained that one officer on duty realized his colleague was missing, only to later find him lying in a pool of blood with his firearm stolen, prompting an immediate alarm.

“This happened very early in the morning. An officer noticed his colleague was missing and later found him injured, with his gun missing,” Maina told TV 47 Digital.

The incident is not isolated. On April 19, 2024, at around 2:30 a.m., unknown suspects attacked police officers guarding the Vihiga County Commissioner’s office, fleeing with a firearm and leaving two officers seriously injured.

These repeated attacks have raised serious concerns over the security situation in the county, with residents also reporting a rise in murder cases.

The latest incident comes just a day after police recovered two bodies dumped in a septic tank behind a commercial building in Mbale town. 

Following these developments, locals have decried the deteriorating security situation and are calling on the Ministry of Interior to urgently intervene and restore order.

Residents and leaders have further urged the government to increase the number of security personnel in the area, provide patrol vehicles, and improve the living and working conditions of officers on the ground.