Multi-agency teams are investigating the source of more than 2,000 bullets that were recovered from a group of herders in the ongoing operation in Laikipia.
The 2,640 bullets were recovered by rangers from West Gate Community Conservancy who are part of a larger team in the operation to drive out herders from private ranches.
A group of herders had earlier attacked a team of National Police Reserve in an ambush near Ewaso Nyiro River in the area.
One herder was killed and material recovered from him including videos showing the herders are hardened and ready for war.
On Saturday, two men who were riding on a motorcycle dropped off and ran on foot leaving a sack containing 44 boxes of 7.62mm ammunition with 60 rounds in each of them.
Police said the two had crossed from Kipsing area to the area and were headed for Kiltamany when they were confronted promoting them to flee.
At least four police officers have been killed and 10 injured in the ongoing operation in the area, which is now almost a month old.
Interior Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i visited the area on July 28 and warned the herders that a crackdown will follow the lapse of the ultimatum and urged them to leave within the window.
Matiang'i blamed the encroaching herders for violent clashes with local farmers and owners of private ranches and conservancies.
He said government would not hesitate to use force, if necessary, with a view to protecting the lives and private property bearing the brunt of invasions.
The CS was accompanied by the Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai, senior security officers and local leaders led by Governor Ndiritu Muriithi.
Matiang’i also announced an immediate takeover by security teams of the 80,000- acre Kilmon farm that is owned by the government and that has been a theatre of deadly clashes between armed herders from Laikipia and the neighbouring counties.
A GSU camp has been established at the parcel to create a buffer zone between the two warring sides.
The CS further ordered private ranchers and pastoralists to register agreements on access to pastures with the county government beginning next month to enable the government to enforce the pacts and arbitrate bloody disputes around their implementation.
“If you have an agreement with ranchers, that’s OK. But for the government to be able to provide security, we want such agreements recorded and the terms registered with the county government to help resolve disputes around them,” he said.
To help pastoralists in the county ease the pressure on grazing pastures and water points, Matiang'i further announced that the Kenya Meat Commission, which is under the Kenya Defence Forces, will begin buying around 1,000 livestock weekly from next week in an off-take deal brokered by the government.
The programme will complement a similar one being implemented by the Laikipia county government.
-Edited by SKanyara