Police have recovered 13 cows that were stolen in Laikipia County following a coordinated operation by a multi-agency security team.

In a statement shared on X on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the National Police Service (NPS) said the livestock had earlier been reported stolen from Segera Location in Laikipia West Sub-County.

According to the police, officers launched a security operation after receiving reports about the theft and managed to trace and recover the animals.

“A coordinated security operation carried out by a multi-agency team in Laikipia County has resulted in the successful recovery of livestock that had earlier been reported stolen from Segera Location in Laikipia West Sub-County,” the National Police Service said in the statement.

After the recovery, officers carried out verification procedures to confirm the rightful owner before handing over the animals.

“Following the recovery, the 13 cows were handed over to the rightful owner after the necessary verification procedures to confirm ownership,” the statement added.

Livestock theft remains a serious problem in several pastoral regions across the country, where many families depend on cattle and goats for their livelihoods. Police say cooperation between security agencies has helped improve responses to such incidents.

The NPS said the latest operation demonstrates how joint efforts between different security units can help curb livestock theft.

“This operation highlights the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in addressing livestock theft, a crime that significantly affects livelihoods in pastoral communities,” the police noted.

Authorities also called on communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

“Continued cooperation and vigilance remain essential in deterring criminal activities and ensuring that communities across Laikipia County remain safe and secure,” the police said.

Police foil Samburu raid

The recovery in Laikipia comes weeks after another operation in Samburu County where police stopped an attempted livestock raid.

In that incident, officers from the National Police Service, supported by National Police Reservists, recovered 50 goats that had been stolen from a herdsman in Marti Location. The animals were taken after the herdsman was ambushed by suspected raiders while grazing them along the Marti–Sulubei Road.

Police said officers moved quickly after receiving a distress call and tracked the suspects across the area before confronting them.

“Officers immediately mobilised and pursued the suspects, tracking their movement across the terrain and intercepting them a short distance from the scene,” the NPS said at the time.

During the operation, officers engaged the suspected raiders in a brief exchange before the suspects fled into nearby thickets, abandoning the animals.

“All fifty goats were successfully recovered and later handed back to the owner in the presence of the area Assistant Chief,” the police said.

Similar operations have also taken place in other counties affected by livestock theft. In December 2025, police recovered 204 cattle stolen during a night raid in Tigania East Sub-County in Meru County.

According to the NPS, officers tracked the animals to the Madoadoa area along the Isiolo–Gambela Road, where they confronted suspected rustlers and regained control of the herd.

Police say such operations form part of wider efforts to tackle livestock theft and banditry in affected regions.

“The National Police Service continues to intensify operations against livestock theft through coordinated patrols, multi-agency collaboration, and community partnerships,” the NPS said.

Authorities maintain that community cooperation and timely reporting remain key in preventing theft and protecting livelihoods in pastoral areas.