One person lost his life following a shootout between police officers and bandits in Isiolo County on Tuesday, January 21.
The shootout emerged while the officers were pursuing bandits believed to have stolen livestock from residents of the Kiwanja area in a suspected cattle rustling that has plagued the North Eastern Region of Kenya.
The National Police Service (NPS) recovered two firearms and 19 heads of cattle that the bandits in Isiolo County had stolen.
The officers were alerted of the theft after distressed calls by the locals whose livestock had been stolen.
Swiftly, a multi-agency security team was dispatched in pursuit of the fleeing bandits.
The team managed to catch up with the bandits who defied orders to surrender, instead opening fire at officers. The police retaliated by opening fire leading to a fire exchange that led to one civilian fatality.
The recovered livestock was taken back and the process to identify their rightful owners kicked off.
The National Police has been conducting operation 'Maliza Uhalifu' in a bid to end the menace of cattle rustling and recover illegal firearms.
The operation started in February 2023 and has made significant progress in restoring peace and normalcy in the areas declared dangerous and disturbed by the government.
This operation aims to address the persistent security challenges posed by pastoralist militias in the North Rift region of Kenya.
Maliza Uhalifu operation has been active in North Eastern counties including Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, West Pokot, Samburu and Laikipia, Meru, and Isiolo Counties.
The operation is characterized by a multi-agency approach involving police forces, military personnel, and National Police Reserve (NPR) forces—volunteers who serve as supplementary security within their communities.
