A multi-agency security team has recovered 45 head of cattle stolen from Pokot North Sub-County, following an operation in Turkana County that ended in a gun battle with suspected bandits who tried to reclaim the animals.
The National Police Service (NPS) said the operation was carried out in Aroo Sub-County after officers received intelligence that the stolen livestock had been driven to Namakat Village in Kalemngorok Sub-location. The cattle had been stolen during a stock theft incident reported in Pokot North last month.
Acting on the tip-off, a joint team drawn from multiple security agencies launched a coordinated operation that successfully traced and recovered all 45 animals before they could be moved elsewhere.
As officers began escorting the recovered cattle to a secure location, they came under attack from suspected bandits attempting to retake the herd, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
“The operation followed credible information that the stolen livestock had been driven to Namakat Village within Kalemngorok Sub-location. Acting swiftly, the joint security team mounted a well-coordinated operation, resulting in the successful recovery of the cattle,” the NPS said in a statement.
Despite the ambush, officers held their ground and secured the animals.
“Despite the hostile confrontation, the multi-agency team remained resolute, tactically repelled the attack and successfully overpowered the criminals, ensuring the safety of the recovered livestock,” police said.
The recovered cattle have since been placed in safe custody as authorities work to verify ownership before handing the animals back to their rightful owners. Police did not disclose whether any suspects were arrested, whether officers sustained injuries, or how many bandits took part in the attack.
The operation is the latest in a string of security interventions targeting cattle rustling in the North Rift, a region where livestock theft remains a persistent driver of insecurity and economic loss for pastoralist communities. Weeks earlier, a similar multi-agency operation recovered 10 stolen cattle in the same Aroo Sub-County, also traced from Pokot North.
Authorities said they have stepped up patrols in the area to recover any remaining stolen livestock and pursue those responsible for the theft, while urging residents to share information that could aid ongoing investigations.
The government has continued to intensify intelligence-led, multi-agency operations across Turkana, West Pokot and Baringo counties, aiming to dismantle organised stock-theft networks and restore stability in areas long affected by banditry.
