Human rights activists have called on the police to ensure that the ongoing mission in Kiamanidi location in Tharaka Nithi County is done justly.
Officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) were on Thursday deployed in the area, in a bid to flash out villages who allegedly killed area chief Japheth Mayau on Tuesday.
Led by Wawira Njue, the activists were quoted by Citizen Digital noting that last such operations have on most occasions ended up in casualties among innocent villagers, and want it done soberly.
The operation, however, is being done in a deserted village, after villagers fled their homes to seek refuge in distant areas, for fear of harassment by the officers.
The matter dates back to three weeks ago when the locals discovered a body of one of their own whose death they blamed on the chief's brother.
They on Tuesday stormed his home but missed him, and instead landed on the chief, hacking him to death and burning his body.
On Wednesday, Chuka OCS Joseph Kinyua met his death while pursuing one of the suspected villagers who runs a butchery in Embu East sub-county.
The suspect, David Ikaaba, allegedly axed the OCS to death but also lost his life in the encounter after being shot in the chest.