Rustlers abandon undetonated grenade after shooting and injuring man in robbery in Meru

A group of cattle rustlers raided a village and shot and injured a man before driving off with tens of animals in Kathare, Meru County.

The gang also threw a live grenade at the home but it failed to detonate, police said.

Police said this happened after the grenade landed on a soft surface in the compound and was safely picked up for analysis and detonation.

The gang raided a farm on Monday, March 17, and stole 16 cows, 14 goats, and one sheep.

The bandits then proceeded to a home where they stole 25 cows and 34 goats.

During the incident, one man was shot in the lower left fibula.

The stolen animals were loaded onto a waiting lorry driven toward Burat's location, police and locals said.

The injured person was taken to St. Theresa Mission Hospital in Kiirua for medical attention.

Efforts are underway to recover the stolen animals, police said.

The area has been experiencing a surge in cattle rustling amid efforts to address the issue.

Elsewhere in Masalani, Garissa County, a suspected poacher was shot and injured in a dramatic confrontation.

Officials were patrolling the Alimattan area when they stumbled on two men slaughtering a giraffe.

This prompted one of the men to escape the scene while his accomplice was arrested.

Authorities recovered 40 kilos of suspected giraffe meat, three sacks, two pangas and a snare made of ropes and logs.

The suspect was escorted to the Ijara police station and tried to escape while alighting.

This prompted the officials to open fire injuring him on the right thigh.

He was arrested and escorted to Hola Sub County Hospital for medical attention.

The poaching menace is rampant in the area amid operations to address it.

Meat from the poached wild animals mostly giraffes is sold to unsuspecting consumers.

Operations have been mounted to address the menace.