By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, 18 May 2026 - A multi-agency security team on Sunday recovered 145 stolen animals in Turkana County following a fierce gunfight with suspected bandits in the volatile Kainuk area, where authorities continue to battle rising cases of cattle rustling and armed raids.
The operation was launched after a stock theft incident was reported, prompting security officers to pursue the suspects believed to have driven away the livestock into remote hideouts.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), officers acting on intelligence tracked the suspected bandits to a reserve about 25 kilometres from Kainuk Police Station.
“When the security officers closed in on the suspects, a fierce shootout erupted. Faced with mounting pressure, the suspects were eventually overpowered and forced to flee into nearby bushes, abandoning the stolen animals,” the NPS said in a statement.
The recovered animals were later positively identified by their owners before being handed over in the presence of National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) and members of the multi-agency security team.
Police said the operation is still ongoing, with officers pursuing the suspects and intensifying patrols across the area to prevent further attacks.
“The National Police Service remains on heightened alert in the ongoing fight against stock theft and banditry. Through enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering and coordinated security operations, officers remain committed to preventing such incidents and responding swiftly whenever they occur,” the statement added.
The latest incident highlights the persistent insecurity facing pastoralist communities in the North Rift and parts of northern Kenya, where cattle rustling has increasingly evolved into organised banditry involving heavily armed criminal gangs.
In Turkana and neighbouring counties, livestock remains the backbone of the local economy, with families heavily dependent on animals for food, income and survival. However, recurring raids have left many communities vulnerable to displacement, loss of livelihoods and deadly revenge attacks.
Security agencies have in recent years intensified multi-agency operations in banditry-prone areas, including Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, following a surge in killings of civilians and security officers.
Authorities say criminal groups often exploit vast and rugged terrain to stage attacks before escaping into remote hideouts, making recovery operations difficult.
“In many pastoralist communities, animals are far more than just property; they are a source of livelihood,” the NPS noted, warning that violent raids continue to fuel insecurity and humanitarian suffering in affected regions.
The Service reiterated its commitment to dismantling criminal networks behind stock theft and protecting vulnerable communities from recurring attacks.
More from Kenya