Suspected armed bandits were repulsed after attempting to raid a herd of goats in Samburu County, triggering an exchange of gunfire with security personnel.
This came amid an ongoing security operation in the area in search of gunmen who had last week attacked and killed five people in Isiolo County. The gunmen are believed to have escaped to neighboring Samburu County.
The latest attack occurred on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at around noon at Lolmolog grazing field in Samburu Central, where the suspected bandits were reportedly hiding in thick forests near the Tung area.
According to police, the herders raised an alarm after spotting the armed men attempting to steal the goats. Security personnel who were nearby responded swiftly, leading to an exchange of fire.
The suspected bandits were overwhelmed and fled the area, with security officers recovering all the animals.
During the incident, a 20-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh. He was subsequently attended to for his injuries.
The recovered goats were handed back to their owners.
Security agencies have continued patrols in the area as efforts intensify to restore calm and prevent further attacks and livestock raids.
Meanwhile, a security operation in Samburu County has triggered protests and calls for an investigation after local leaders and residents reported the killing of hundreds of livestock during efforts to recover stolen animals and curb banditry.
The operation followed a series of violent incidents involving suspected bandits operating across the Samburu-Isiolo border.
Tensions escalated after an Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) team tracking stolen livestock was attacked in the Gotu area of Isiolo County.
Two ASTU police officers, a National Police Reservist (NPR) and two civilians were killed in the incident. This has angered police who have focused on Samburu where the attackers are believed to be hiding.
Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit said his administration had supported the security operation, whose stated objectives included recovering livestock stolen from Isiolo and removing illegal firearms from the area.
However, the governor criticised the manner in which the operation was conducted, saying livestock belonging to residents had been killed.
“The outcome has been beyond measure, resulting in severe human rights violations, atrocities, and the indiscriminate killing of livestock,” Lelelit said at a press conference.
The reported livestock deaths was raised in the Senate, where Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Samburu Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi called for accountability over the operation.
Figures presented in the Senate indicated that 415 goats and 102 cattle were killed in Waso Ward over a period of three days.
Samburu East MP Jackson Lekumontare also visited affected areas and met residents and local security committees.
Lekumontare said his assessment showed that more than 700 goats, 500 cattle and several donkeys had been killed.
The figures could not immediately be independently verified.
The MP criticised the security operation and called for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the animals.
He also urged security agencies to distinguish between individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activity and other residents, arguing that security operations should be targeted at suspected perpetrators.
The reports of livestock killings have led to protests by residents in Samburu East, with demonstrators calling for an end to the operation and investigations into the conduct of security officers.
Samburu Woman Representative Pauline Lenguris and local elders have also called for accountability and urged the national government to address the concerns raised by residents.
The leaders have called for an independent investigation into the operation, including the circumstances surrounding the deaths of livestock and reports of injuries among residents.
The security operation comes amid continuing concerns over banditry and livestock theft in the region, with authorities facing pressure to address insecurity while ensuring that operations comply with the law and protect civilians and their property.
The area is among those under a special operation to tame cattle rustling menace.
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