MERU, Kenya – Three people were killed and several others injured after heavily armed cattle rustlers, believed to have crossed over from the Samburu administrative region, launched coordinated night attacks across three areas in Meru County on Saturday.
The first raid occurred at dusk in Igembe Central, where the attackers drove away 62 head of cattle. Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma confirmed that a combined team of General Service Unit (GSU) officers and National Police Reservists (NPR) pursued the rustlers shortly after the incident.
“One herder and two NPR officers — a Turkana and a Meru — lost their lives,” Ouma said, noting that security personnel managed to recover all 62 animals during an exchange of fire as the raiders attempted to drive them toward Samburu.
Igembe Central MP Dan Kiili condemned the assault, saying the attack left residents shaken and exposed the vulnerability of communities in banditry-prone parts of Meru. He criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of neglecting volatile regions and called on President William Ruto to intervene urgently.
A second attack unfolded around 7pm in Tigania East, where rustlers escaped with 120 cattle. Security teams responded swiftly, recovering 75 animals and sealing off major escape routes commonly used by the attackers.
The third incident took place at about 9pm in Buuri East, where a pastor’s homestead was raided. The attackers stole 19 cattle, 22 goats and sheep, and later snatched seven more cattle from a neighbouring household. Officers recovered 21 cattle immediately, and by Saturday morning, 13 additional cattle and 20 goats and sheep had been traced.
Commissioner Ouma said the near-simultaneous raids indicated a high level of coordination among the attackers. He warned that some local collaborators may be aiding the criminals by leaking information on the movement of security teams.
He urged herders to comply with government directives requiring livestock to be grazed in groups for enhanced safety, noting that isolated herds remain easy targets for bandits.
“We are facing a major challenge when herders refuse to graze collectively against our advice,” Ouma said. He added that more personnel, including specialised security units, were being deployed to curb the rising wave of rustling incidents.
Authorities have increased patrols across the affected regions as investigations continue.
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