Police in Kitale gun down a suspected cattle thief
By David Musundi, June 20, 2020
Police in Kitale on Friday gunned down a cattle theft suspect and recovered a Friesian cow.
Police said an accomplice to the suspect was also arrested.
According to Trans Nzoia county police commander Ayub Gitonga, the two were cornered at Muthurwa near Kitale railways station.
The suspects had raided a farm in Kiminini and made away with the cow.
“We got information that this gang had raided the home of one farmer by name Hezron Mobegi and gotten away the one cow valued at sh.150,000. We dispatched police officers and eventually cornered them at Muthurwa area,” said Gitonga.
He said the suspects resisted arrest and engaged the officers in a fight using crude weapons. One officer sustained cut injuries from the fight.
“During the incident, one of the suspects was gunned down. Unfortunately, one of our officers was slightly injured but our officers fought hard to arrest his accomplice and recovered the cow which we have handed back to the owner,’’ he said.
Police are pursuing other suspects on the cattle theft syndicate who are said to work with butchers.