One suspected bandit has been shot and killed, and 45 head of cattle and two donkeys recovered from Luthaya village in Meru County after a police operation.
The recovered livestock have been taken to Mutuati Police Station for identification and collection by their rightful owners.
This operation follows a tragic incident on April 7, when three NPRs were fatally shot during a violent gun battle with armed raiders in Mea, Igembe North, Meru County.
According to the report, the attackers also made away with 87 cattle, 22 goats, and seven donkeys during the raid.
In response to the April 7 attack, a joint operation led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) recovered two AK-47 rifles believed to have been used in the killings.
The firearms were found hidden in Lemorijo village, Lengurma Location, Isiolo North Sub-County.
Kenyans
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced plans for a joint security operation involving the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to address the escalating banditry in Meru, Isiolo, Laikipia North, and Samburu East.
"A lot of work has been done in this county to deal with this banditry, having been assisted by improved security equipment and also improved strategy formed-up units."
"We have 11 formed-up units and stations between the county of Isiolo and Meru county, where we have the biggest problem of banditry," Murkomen said on May 7.
According to Murkomen, most of the bandits causing havoc in Meru County come from Samburu, some from Isiolo.
"I am glad to report that a lot of progress has been made. The statistics show that there has been a reduction from last year, but the problem has not been eliminated. Our duty today is to firm up more strategies and eradicate this problem," he added.
The government continues to urge local communities to cooperate with security agencies by providing information to help in the fight against banditry and cattle rustling, which have been a major issue in the region for years.
