Two suspected bandits were shot dead in a failed cattle rustling incident in Kokuro, Kibish, Turkana County.
Police said the incident happened in Welegech village, where a group of Dassanech armed bandits numbering about 50 attacked the area with the intention of stealing livestock on Friday.
The local members of the National Police Reserve responded swiftly, which resulted in a fierce gun exchange.
Some locals who are armed joined the clash that lasted more than 30 minutes.
Two assailants were fatally injured while others escaped with serious injuries during the incident, police who visited the scene said.
However, there were no casualties from the NPR and Turkana herdsmen, police added.
The bodies of the assailants remained at the
scene after locals resisted any attempts to move them to the mortuary on Friday, November 14.
It took the involvement of local elders to negotiate for the movement of the bodies, officials said.
Patrols have been intensified within the said area amid fears of retaliation. This is the latest such incident in the area amid operations to tame the practice.
Gunmen from both Ethiopia, South Sudan and local ones
strike for livestock in a persistent trend.
This has forced the government to take various measures to address the menace.
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, Meru and Isiolo counties. The operation has also been extended to Migori where bandits are increasingly attacking and stealing animals.
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 deradicalisation process in the areas, which has borne fruit with some locals surrendering their weapons in Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo Counties.
More than 600 assorted weapons have been surrendered in a two-month exercise.
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 subsidised 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.
“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
institutionalises 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.
