At least four suspected bandits were shot and killed in a clash with police in Sinkinte area, Marsabit County.
Police said they recovered two AK47 rifles from the men while their accomplices managed to escape in the Saturday drama.
The multi-agency teams from Samburu, Isiolo and Marsabit Counties managed to recover 57 of the 60 heads of cattle earlier stolen from Samburu herders.
They had trailed the gang to the area for hours before a shootout ensued leading to the killing of the four. Their bodies were moved to the mortuary pending identification and autopsy.
Another group of bandits had earlier raided a village in Merti, Isiolo County and stole livestock after shooting and killing two men.
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, Elgeyo Marakwet, 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.
There is also an ongoing deradicalization process among the rustlers. This has prompted some of those handling the illegal arms in Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo Counties to surrender them and so far more than 300 weapons have been recovered, police say.
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.
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