Police have recovered more than 200 livestock that had been stolen from separate homesteads in Meru county.
The operation led by the Anti-Stock Theft Unit recovered a herd of 171 cattle valued at about Sh7 million and four donkeys that had been stolen in the Ndumuru area.
According to police, the operation was characterised by a fierce exchange of fire between the security team and suspected bandits who were overwhelmed and abandoned the animals.
The team managed to recover all animals and were escorted to Ndumuru police station awaiting circulation and identification.
No arrest was made, police said.
In Chesogon, Elgeyo Marakwet County, seven stolen animals were recovered during an operation.
Police tracked the footmarks of the stolen cattle towards Kissa village, and managed to recover all the abandoned animals.
The recovered stock was handed over to the rightful owner after identification, police said.
In the Kisima area, Maili Nane location within Buuri East sub-county, nine cows and four goats that had been stolen by gunmen were recovered.
A police team tracked the footmarks towards Leprong Hills, where a fierce exchange of fire ensued between the security team and suspected bandits who were overwhelmed and fled towards the nearby thickets.
The team managed to recover all animals, which were handed over to the rightful owner after identification, National Police Spokesperson Dr Resila Onyango said.
Elsewhere in Mutuati, Igembe, police are tracking an unknown number of cows and goats that were stolen from villages by gunmen.
According to police, relevant authorities are currently engaged in tracking the disappearance of 47 cows cattle and goats, along with a herder from Malaene area.
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 and Samburu.
Marsabit, Isiolo and Meru counties were also added to the areas targeted.
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.
