Police escort recovered stolen livestock to the GSU Lami Nyeusi camp on July 25, 2025. /NPS/XSecurity officers in Turkana have recovered dozens of stolen animals following a violent attack on livestock traders near Sarmach Junction on Friday.
A statement released by the National Police Service (NPS) said a group of unidentified assailants launched a brazen daylight assault on traders at a livestock market close to the Turkwel River Bridge in Kainuk on July 25.
The attackers, armed with crude weapons and stones, ambushed unsuspecting vendors, causing chaos and panic.
"The assailants used stones and other crude weapons to violently disperse traders, forcing them to flee for their safety," read part of the police statement.
In a swift response, a multi-agency patrol team comprising officers from various security formations was dispatched to the scene.
Following the coordinated operation, the officers managed to recover 22 head of cattle and 18 goats, believed to have been driven away by the attackers during the mayhem.
The recovered animals were transported to the GSU Lami Nyeusi camp, where a verification process was undertaken in the presence of National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO).
Owners who had lost livestock in the attack were able to identify and reclaim their animals.
“The multi-agency team remains deployed in the area, continuing efforts to locate the remaining stolen livestock and apprehend the perpetrators,” the statement added.
The National Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside local leaders, community elders, and other stakeholders in addressing the underlying causes of livestock theft in the region, which include resource-based conflicts and historical rivalries.
Livestock theft is not just a criminal act but a threat to the economic fabric and social stability of pastoralist communities, especially in ASAL areas.
Police said collaboration with local communities will enable them to stamp out livestock theft, which remains rampant in parts of the North Rift, where rustling incidents tend to spike during periods of drought and food scarcity.
While several recovery efforts in the past months have yielded positive results, authorities have often struggled to bring the perpetrators to justice due to the rugged terrain and lack of cooperation from local populations, often bound by complex clan loyalties.
The police are appealing to members of the public to provide information that may assist in tracing the suspects and recovering any remaining stolen livestock.
They have urged residents to report suspicious activity and avoid harbouring criminals, warning that aiding or abetting livestock theft is a punishable offence.
