A herdsman died after being shot by suspected bandits during a cattle theft incident in Igembe Central, Meru County, on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on September 15, 2026, following an earlier report made at about 2:45 p.m.
Police established that more than 120 cattle had been stolen by the suspected bandits.
During the incident, one of the herdsmen, identified as Haron Mwira, was shot in the left knee. He was rushed to Guardian Hospital in Kangeta for treatment but succumbed to his injuries due to excessive bleeding.
The deceased’s body was transferred to the Nyambene Sub-County Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting autopsy.
Incidents of cattle rustling have been on the rise in the area amid efforts to address the menace.
Most of the attackers invade the area from the neighbouring counties in the worrying trend despite heavy police deployment there.
The area is 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 subsidized 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.
He said plans to distribute subsidized agricultural inputs and extension services to area residents in a bid to revive farming activities as a source of livelihood.
“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 institutionalizes 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 and in particular where they are slaughtered and sold as products.
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