NPS recovers 8 stolen cattle in cross-border operation with Ethiopia
By Joel Masibo, August 11, 2025The National Police Service has stated that a coordinated security operation has led to the recovery of eight stolen cattle along the Kenya–Ethiopia border.
Taking to their official X platform on Monday, August 11, 2025, the NPS said the particular recovery took place on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Lowaat border point, situated between Kibish in Kenya and Dassanech Woreda in Ethiopia.
The security agency added that the livestock had been stolen from Welegech, Turkana County, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, by suspected bandits.
According to the NPS, the swift operation was spearheaded by Kokuro Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Evans Kimoni, alongside the Kokuro Police Station Deputy Officer Commanding Station (OCS). Local chiefs and county government officials played a key role in the mission, which was executed in collaboration with Ethiopian counterparts.
The animals had been stolen from Welegech on 6 August 2025 by suspected bandits. In a coordinated cross-border operation, the cattle were returned to the Kenyan administration without incident,” NPS said partly in a statement.
According to officials, the recovery was achieved seamlessly before the cattle were formally handed back to the Kenyan administration. During the exercise, both Kenyan and Ethiopian authorities used the occasion to reaffirm their shared commitment to maintaining peace, enhancing security, and deepening cooperation in addressing cross-border challenges, including livestock theft and banditry.
Security situation in Northern Kenya
Elsewhere, Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Mr. Eliud Lagat, and the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service (APS), Gilbert Masengeli led a high-level, multi-agency security assessment tour of Mandera and Wajir counties at the weekend.
The visit aimed to assess the current security situation, address prevailing challenges, and enhance coordination among security stakeholders in the region.
In Mandera, the DIGs paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mohamed Adan Khalif, the Governor of Mandera County, where they held in-depth discussions on key security matters.
The delegation later proceeded to the Mandera County Police Headquarters, where they held a security briefing with senior local officials. Discussions focused on regional threats, particularly cross-border insecurity along the Kenya-Somalia border and terrorism threats from Al-Shabaab, among others.
Communities living at border points are hard hit with banditry and other security-related challenges.