Marsabit County Police Commander Leonard Kimaiyo confirmed the security operation, saying the confrontation began after National Police Reservist officers went to the home of a suspect sought in connection with a defilement case and attempted to arrest him.

According to Kimaiyo, the suspect resisted arrest and called associates for assistance, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the group and security personnel. The circumstances surrounding the initial attempt to arrest the suspect, including the number of officers and suspects involved, were not immediately disclosed.

Kimaiyo said the armed suspects eventually withdrew after exhausting their ammunition. Security officers subsequently recovered two firearms — an AK-47 and an FN rifle — that the fleeing group allegedly abandoned. The weapons were taken into custody by officers from Loiyangalani Police Station as part of the investigation.

The security situation escalated later Monday evening when the same suspects allegedly ambushed a National Police Reservist officer in the Rarashe area. Police said the officer was assaulted and his G3 rifle was taken before the attackers escaped.

Authorities have since intensified operations aimed at locating the suspects and recovering the stolen government-issued firearm. Police did not immediately provide details about the reservist's condition or disclose whether additional personnel had been deployed to the area.

The recovery of the AK-47 and FN rifle is expected to form part of the continuing investigation as officers seek to establish their ownership and determine whether the weapons are connected to other incidents. Authorities have not announced any arrests.

National Police Reservists support regular security agencies in parts of Kenya where policing large and remote territories can present operational challenges. The loss of an official firearm adds urgency to the investigation because an unrecovered weapon could pose an additional security risk.

Lamaane News Network could not independently verify the identities of the suspects or obtain civilian eyewitness accounts from Rarashe. No direct quotations from residents, witnesses or the affected officer were available in the information provided, and their accounts have therefore not been attributed or reconstructed.

Police said the manhunt and investigation remained active, with security personnel focusing on apprehending those involved and recovering the G3 rifle. Further details, including possible arrests and the circumstances surrounding the recovered firearms, are expected to depend on findings from the continuing police operation.