Police kill bandit in Baringo, recover stolen livestock
During the confrontation, a member of the National Police Reserve sustained gunshot wounds to his hand and leg.
A suspected bandit was shot dead during a botched robbery attempt in Makutani village, Baringo County.
According to police, officers managed to recover 33 stolen cows that had been taken from herders in the Kiserian area on Saturday.
The incident occurred after an alarm was raised, prompting security forces to launch a pursuit targeting around 20 armed raiders who had attacked the village.
During the confrontation, a member of the National Police Reserve sustained gunshot wounds to his hand and leg. He was later airlifted to Kabarnet Referral Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
The security team eventually caught up with the attackers, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire that left one suspect dead.
Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri noted that several of the assailants fled with injuries.
"All the stolen livestock were recovered and returned to their rightful owners through coordinated efforts by various security agencies," Muchiri confirmed.
This latest attack comes amid ongoing operations to curb the persistent threat of banditry in the region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently stated that banditry cases had dropped notably this year.
Between January and March 2025, 21 people were reported killed in such attacks—a decline compared to the same period last year.
Murkomen reported that among those killed were a police officer, eight civilians, and twelve suspects—a marked reduction from the 58 fatalities recorded during the same period in 2024.
According to the January–March 2025 security briefing, incidents of banditry and livestock theft have fallen sharply.
Stock‐theft cases dropped to 167 this quarter, down from 263, and the number of animals stolen fell to 4,935 compared with 8,557 over the same months last year.
Despite this progress, Murkomen acknowledged ongoing hurdles: the spread of illicit small arms, the commodification of banditry enabled by markets for stolen stock, political meddling and provocation, disputes over water and grazing rights in times of drought, and clashes over communal land boundaries.
He also noted that criminals exploit inaccessible hideouts, where poor roads and limited mobile coverage hinder security operations.
To address these gaps, the government is allocating funds for road and school construction and equipping our officers with improved resources.
