Cattle rustling menaceA 30-year-old herder was shot dead during an exchange of fire between Meru and Turkana herders over grazing land in Igembe North, Meru County.
Police said the incident occurred around the Luma area on Sunday evening, where Meru herders camping at Mariara in Igembe Central clashed with a group of herders camping at Kibwanthome Hill in Igembe North.
Police responded to the incident.
Police established that the two groups had exchanged gunfire over access to grazing areas.
During the confrontation, Joseph Mutembei, a herder from Tigania East, was fatally shot on the left side of his body through the armpit.
His body was moved to Maua Mortuary pending a postmortem examination.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the source of the firearms used during the confrontation.
The incident had caused tension amid fears of retaliations.
Elsewhere, a police officer was injured when a mobile patrol team was ambushed by suspected Turkana bandits in Isiolo County on Monday.
The incident occurred in the Kakili area of Burat Ward, Isiolo North Sub-County, during a patrol by officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit based at Kisima.
Police said the team came under attack from suspected bandits, triggering a fierce exchange of fire.
During the gunfight, the police officer sustained an injury to his right foot.
He was rushed to Galaxy Hospital, where he was receiving treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
A reinforcement team responded to the scene.
The reinforcement team managed to contain the situation, according to the police report.
The suspected bandits fled on foot towards the Lepororong Hills as security officers pursued efforts to secure the area.
Police said normalcy had been restored in the area following the incident, while investigations and security operations continued.
The areas are among
those under Operation Maliza Uhalifu aimed at dealing with bandits.
The operation has managed to contain crime in
the area and other counties amid persistence.
The operation targets Baringo, West Pokot,
Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru and Isiolo counties.
Besides retributive reaction, strategic investment and sustainable development have also taken a prominent place among the government’s planned crime control interventions for Kenya’s Northern Frontier and the Kerio Valley belt.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the long-term vision is to empower the communities to actively take part in the war against animal rustling and undertake legitimate nation-building activities.
He said plans to distribute subsidised agricultural inputs and extension services to area residents in a bid to revive farming activities as a source of livelihood.
Murkomen ordered fresh vetting for all National Police Reservists (NPRs) as part of efforts to bolster the operations.
“We are coming to dismantle not only the criminals themselves but also to bring down the entire chain that has been the cattle and livestock rustling industry,” he said.
He also announced a new policy shift, which institutionalises the command structure of the NPR officers, stating they will hence be under the direct command of the Officer Commanding Police Stations (OCS) as part of efforts to enhance their operations.
The attacks have affected development at large. Most of the stolen animals are driven to urban centres, in particular where they are slaughtered and sold as products.
