Murkomen Announces Fresh Security Crackdown on Banditry in Samburu

Kenya, July 5, 2026 - Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a fresh intelligence-led security operation targeting illegal firearms, ammunition networks and stolen livestock in Samburu County as the government intensifies efforts to eliminate banditry and cattle rustling in the North Rift.

Speaking on Sunday after attending Mass and a church fundraising at Ledero Catholic Church in Maralal Ward, Murkomen said the operation will begin within the next three weeks and is aimed at consolidating gains made in restoring security across the region.

"The security strategies the government deployed in the last four years have markedly improved security in the county and the region at large. There are, however, isolated cases of cattle rustling and banditry that have been experienced in some areas in the county recently," he said.

Murkomen said the multi-agency operation will focus on recovering illegal firearms, dismantling criminal networks involved in the sale and distribution of ammunition, and disrupting markets for stolen livestock, which authorities say continue to fuel insecurity in pastoral communities.

He noted that while security has improved significantly, the government remains determined to eliminate the remaining pockets of criminal activity that continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.

The Interior CS also announced the immediate operationalisation of recently gazetted locations and sub-locations in Samburu and other parts of the country to strengthen grassroots administration and improve security coordination.

"We are also rolling out the operationalization of gazetted locations and sub-locations with immediate effect to improve security coordination and governance at the grassroots level," he said.

The operationalisation will see the deployment of National Government Administrative Officers, including chiefs and assistant chiefs, to newly created administrative units. The move is expected to bring government services closer to residents, improve intelligence gathering and enhance coordination between security agencies and local communities.

The government has in recent years gazetted hundreds of new locations and sub-locations across the country as part of broader administrative reforms aimed at addressing population growth, reducing the distance residents travel to access government services and strengthening local security management.

The new administrative units are particularly significant in expansive and remote counties such as Samburu, Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo and Marsabit, where vast distances have often hampered effective policing and public administration.

The latest security measures build on the government's sustained campaign against banditry in the North Rift, which has involved the deployment of specialised police units, the Kenya Defence Forces, aerial surveillance and intelligence-led operations. Since the launch of the multi-agency operation in 2023, authorities say incidents of bandit attacks and livestock theft have declined significantly in several hotspot areas, although sporadic attacks continue to be reported.


Murkomen urged residents to continue cooperating with security agencies by sharing information that could help identify criminals and recover illegal weapons, saying community support remains vital to sustaining peace.

The church service and fundraiser brought together several leaders from the region, including Samburu Governor Jonathan Lelelit, Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, Samburu Senator Dr Steve Lelegwe, Samburu Woman Representative Pauline Lenguris and Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, among other local leaders.

The leaders reaffirmed their support for government efforts to restore lasting peace, saying improved security is essential for economic development, education, tourism and investment in the region.