•Multi-agency teams are in the region in search of illegal guns and address the cattle rustling menace.
•Police said more shoats that were stolen are still being sought in the area.
At least three suspected cattle rustlers were killed in a botched robbery of shoats in a village in Isiolo County.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Saturday evening when an unspecified number of shoats were stolen from Kob Dertu, Madoyaqa, and Garbatulla areas.
A shoat is an offspring of a goat and sheep. The production of shoats has become popular in the area. Responding to distress calls from affected herders, residents apprehended the suspected thieves, resulting in the death of three individuals.
Some of the suspects managed to escape. Garbatulla Deputy County Commissioner, Stephen Nyakundi, reported that approximately 1,400 shoats had been taken by the rustlers.
In response, local residents mobilized in significant numbers, surrounding the village, where they cornered the suspects and killed three of them.
Police said more shoats that were stolen are still being sought in the area. Nyakundi told locals to be vigilant as it is common for cattle rustlers to be active during the December period.
“We urge herders to be in groups so that National Police Reserve (NPR) officers can assist them easily and enhance their own security,” he said.
The area is frequently attacked by gunmen eyeing livestock. This is despite ongoing operations to address the menace.
Multi-agency teams are in the region in search of illegal guns and address the cattle rustling menace.
The government is reviewing the recruitment and operation of the Narional Police Reservists (NPRs).
Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Administration of the National Government, Kithure Kindiki earlier this week said the government will increase the number of NPRs in Kenya's troubled north with the goal of permanently eliminating the scourge.
"To seal off operational gaps, we are forthwith reorganising the management, command, and control of the National Police Reservists (NPR) to supplement the capabilities of the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the operation," he added.
The CS said the officers deployed will be on the ground forever.
“This is not a one-off deployment. Banditry and livestock theft will be a thing of the past," Kindiki stated.
He noted that NPR recruitment will be streamlined, with a clear operational command in place to ensure that Reservists are not drawn into local political issues.