Suspected Bandit Killed, Stolen Livestock Recovered in Meru Police Operation

One suspected bandit was shot dead and dozens of stolen animals recovered during a security operation in Luthaya village, Meru County. Police retrieved 45 head of cattle and two donkeys, which have since been taken to Mutuati Police Station for identification and return to their rightful owners.

The recovery follows a deadly raid on April 7 in Mea, Igembe North, where three National Police Reservists (NPRs) were killed in a fierce gunfight with armed raiders. During that attack, the bandits escaped with 87 cattle, 22 goats, and seven donkeys.

In the wake of the incident, a joint operation involving the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and General Service Unit (GSU) officers led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles hidden in Lemorijo village, Isiolo North Sub-County. The weapons are believed to have been used in the April 7 killings.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has since announced heightened security operations across Meru, Isiolo, Laikipia North, and Samburu East, with support from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). “We now have 11 formed-up units and stations between Isiolo and Meru, where banditry is most rampant,” Murkomen said on May 7.

He confirmed that many perpetrators come from Samburu and Isiolo but noted a decline in incidents compared to last year. “Our mission now is to strengthen strategies and completely eliminate this menace,” he added.

The government continues to appeal for public cooperation, urging communities to provide timely information that will aid in ending cattle rustling and banditry in the region.