- The team investigating the incident said the attack is unique given it is happening in the city.
- Some of the herders prefer taking care of their animals near the Athi River slaughterhouse before they sell them.
Police are investigating an incident in which a group that was armed with crude weapons raided a holding yard in Athi River, Machakos County and stole 13 bulls.
The bulls were valued at Sh1 million, police and the owner of the yard said.
Two guards were on duty in the Portland area when a group armed with crude weapons struck on Monday at about 3 am.
The attackers drove off with the bulls to an unknown destination and it is believed they had a standby lorry for the mission.
Police said the guards were taking care of 139 herds of cattle when the incident happened.
The guards said they were attacked by a gang of over 10 people armed with crude weapons.
The gang took hold of the guards while others drove away the 13 bulls.
During the incident one of the guards was cut on the head with a panga and rushed to hospital in stable condition, police said.
The gang confiscated five mobile phones from the guards and disappeared with them.
The area was thoroughly combed, but no recovery or arrests were made, police said.
The team investigating the incident said the attack is unique given it is happening in the city.
Some of the herders prefer taking care of their animals near the Athi River slaughterhouse before they sell them.
The herders have resorted to leasing fields and yards in the area for the mission.
Police say the attack needs attention and suspect the stolen animals were delivered to other slaughterhouses in the city.
Cattle rustling is common in other parts of the country, especially in the Kerio Valley where it has negatively affected lives.
The government has rolled out measures to address the menace.
On Sunday, a group of gunmen raided a village in Isiolo and killed a herder before escaping with 100 cows.
Police said the raid happened in the Kambi Garba area.
The gang shot a herder in the chest as they invaded a homestead killing him on the spot.
The group then drove off with the cows that were in the compound.
Police said the herder was rushed to hospital but succumbed to the injuries while on the way.
A team of police was dispatched to the area and traced the attackers to Samburu. No recovery had been made so far and police said they are making efforts over the same.
The area is among those still experiencing cattle rustling menace.
More resources have been dedicated towards efforts to address the menace.
For instance, more vehicles have been dispatched to the areas to help in addressing the issue.
But gangs keep attacking animals, which has negatively affected the region at large.
The area is among those under police operation to recover illegal weapons in the hands of civilians.
The operation started three months ago and involved multi-agency teams covering various counties.
The Operation Komesha Uhalifu North Rift targets Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit and Isiolo counties.
Besides retributive reaction, strategic investment and sustainable development have also taken a prominent place among the government’s planned crime control interventions for Kenya’s Northern frontier and the Kerio Valley belt.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the long-term vision is to empower the communities to actively take part in the war against animal rustling and undertake legitimate nation-building activities.
He said plans to distribute subsidized agricultural inputs and extension services to area residents in a bid to revive farming activities as a source of livelihood.
“We are coming to dismantle not only the criminals themselves but also to bring down the entire chain that has been the cattle and livestock rustling industry,” he said.