SAMBURU, Kenya – Two rifles, an AK-47 and a G3, were recovered during a police operation in the Achers Post area of Samburu County on December 26.
Nine bullets and a magazine were also seized from a suspect’s house during the raid, though the suspect managed to escape.
Authorities said the operation was triggered by a robbery in the Waso area, where a gunman stormed a shop, holding attendants and customers at gunpoint.
The brazen act, caught on CCTV, prompted a swift response from a multi-agency team stationed at the Kalama roadblock.
The recovered weapons have been handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for ballistic analysis to determine if they have been used in other crimes. A manhunt for the suspect is ongoing.
The Achers Post area is one of several zones under heightened security due to rampant cattle rustling and banditry.
The crackdown is part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift, launched in February 2023 to combat escalating violence in nine counties, including Samburu, Baringo, and Turkana.
The Ministry of Interior reports that the operation has yielded significant progress, including the recovery of 172 illegal firearms and 10,173 stolen livestock.
Cattle rustling incidents have reportedly decreased by 62%, dropping from 63,054 to 23,668 stolen livestock cases.
Over the course of the operation, 250 suspects, including 14 political leaders, have been arrested and prosecuted.
The multi-agency effort, involving the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), has designated several regions as “disturbed” and “dangerous” to intensify the campaign against banditry.
Security officials have reiterated their commitment to restoring peace and stability in the region
Nine bullets and a magazine were also seized from a suspect’s house during the raid, though the suspect managed to escape.
Authorities said the operation was triggered by a robbery in the Waso area, where a gunman stormed a shop, holding attendants and customers at gunpoint.
The brazen act, caught on CCTV, prompted a swift response from a multi-agency team stationed at the Kalama roadblock.
The recovered weapons have been handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for ballistic analysis to determine if they have been used in other crimes. A manhunt for the suspect is ongoing.
The Achers Post area is one of several zones under heightened security due to rampant cattle rustling and banditry.
The crackdown is part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift, launched in February 2023 to combat escalating violence in nine counties, including Samburu, Baringo, and Turkana.
The Ministry of Interior reports that the operation has yielded significant progress, including the recovery of 172 illegal firearms and 10,173 stolen livestock.
Cattle rustling incidents have reportedly decreased by 62%, dropping from 63,054 to 23,668 stolen livestock cases.
Over the course of the operation, 250 suspects, including 14 political leaders, have been arrested and prosecuted.
The multi-agency effort, involving the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), has designated several regions as “disturbed” and “dangerous” to intensify the campaign against banditry.
Security officials have reiterated their commitment to restoring peace and stability in the region
