Part of 4,800 Ethiopians refugees at Odda Mission Church Secondary School in Moyale fleeing the conflict in Ethiopia on October 28, 2026 /ABDIKADIR CHARI

More than 50,000 people The Ethiopia conflict that has spilled into Kenya took a deadly turn on Monday after a 65-year-old woman was reportedly killed by a suspected stray bullet at the Moyale county offices.

More than 50,000 people displaced by fighting in neighbouring Ethiopia are being hosted in the Kenyan border town of Moyale. The influx has raised security concerns and placed additional pressure on local public services.

The deceased, identified as Amina Guchi, was reportedly speaking to a security official when an object believed to be a bullet struck her on the head from behind.

She collapsed and lost consciousness before being rushed to Moyale Sub-County Referral Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police visited the hospital, and a postmortem was conducted before her body was released to the family for burial arrangements.

Preliminary reports suggest the suspected bullet may have originated from ongoing clashes between two regions in Ethiopia. However, the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.

The incident is the latest in a series of security scares linked to the fighting. Residents on the Kenyan side of the border remain anxious and are appealing to the government to intervene.

On Sunday, security officers safely detonated three rocket-propelled grenades reportedly fired from neighbouring Ethiopia after they landed near Sessi Primary School.

The explosives were discovered following a report of unexploded materials in the area. Their discovery disrupted learning and examination activities at the school.

Marsabit County Commissioner Stanley Kamande said the clashes had affected communities in Kenya. He added that stray bullets had reportedly injured more than eight people and killed Guchi near the county offices in Moyale.

He also revealed that two schools, Sessi Mixed Secondary School and St Mary's Mixed Secondary School, had been relocated to safer areas because of security concerns.

The relocation comes as Form 4 candidates continue to sit their national examinations, raising concerns about the impact of the conflict on education in the border region.

The growing displacement has also increased pressure on local health facilities in Moyale subcounty. Demand for medical services has risen, with shortages of some essential medicines reported.

Marsabit Health executive Malich Boru said at least 30 expectant mothers displaced from Ethiopia had delivered at local health facilities.

He urged displaced families to continue seeking medical attention at public health facilities. He added that the county had distributed mosquito nets and insect repellents to help prevent malaria.

Meanwhile, Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Jillo Wako has appealed to the national government, humanitarian agencies and development partners to urgently coordinate assistance for displaced families.

During a visit to Odha Refugee Camp on Monday, where she distributed food and non-food items, Wako said humanitarian needs continued to outstrip available resources.

She said women, children and the elderly were among those most affected. She called for sustained provision of food, clean water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare.

Wako warned that the growing number of displaced people was placing additional pressure on host communities and those providing assistance.

County officials have assured affected families of government support as the number of people crossing into Kenya continues to rise.

More than 50,000 people displaced by the Ethiopian conflict are now seeking refuge in Moyale, placing immense pressure on already limited public resources and host communities.

The crisis extends beyond the provision of emergency food and shelter. Rising demand for healthcare, disruptions to education and reported cross-border shootings point to a wider humanitarian and security challenge. Kenya needs coordinated assistance and stronger border protection as displacement continues to grow.