Police overpower attackers in gunfight and recover 72 head of cattle in Meru
By Emmanuel Rono, April 26, 2026A multi-agency security team in Meru County has recovered 72 head of cattle following a banditry incident that disrupted calm in the Kubicera grazing area in Kangeta yesterday.
According to the police report on April 26, 2026, the incident occurred around midday when a resident raised an alarm after armed attackers stormed the grazing fields, driving away an unknown number of livestock and also stealing a motorcycle.
“The calm at the Kubicera grazing area was disrupted around midday yesterday when reports emerged of a banditry raid. A resident of Kangeta in Meru County alerted authorities that an unknown number of armed bandits had descended on the grazing fields, driving away an unconfirmed number of cattle and stealing a motorcycle,” Police report read.
How they were recovered
The team was immediately mobilised and launched a pursuit of the attackers, trailing them to the Muliti area.
Following the operation, the officers successfully recovered 72 cattle, all of which were later positively identified by their rightful owner.
“Following the report, a multi-agency security team was swiftly mobilised and launched a hot pursuit of the assailants, leading to the Muliti area, where they encountered the bandits, resulting in an exchange of fire. The officers engaged and overpowered the attackers,” police stated.
“Subsequently, the team successfully recovered a total of 72 head of cattle, all of which have been positively identified by their owner.”
Recent cattle rustling in the area
The National Police Service (NPS), in a statement issued on the night of Saturday, April 11, 2026, said they successfully recovered 77 stolen cattle in the same region.
According to the NPS, the operation was launched following a tip-off from members of the public who reported that a large herd of stolen cows was being driven toward the Kachiuru area by suspected bandits.
“A coordinated multi-agency response, supported by actionable information from the public, has culminated in the successful recovery of stolen livestock in Meru County,” NPS stated.
“Officers from the National Police Service (NPS) received a report indicating that seventy-seven (77) cows had been stolen by suspected bandits and were being driven towards the Kachiuru area.”
Murkomen vows a crackdown in the region
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced key measures to strengthen security in Meru County’s Northern Grazing Zone amid a sharp surge in cattle rustling and banditry incidents.
Speaking during a security meeting at Mbataru RDU Camp in Tigania East Sub-County on March 23, 2026, Murkomen attributed the recent escalation to the displacement of armed criminals from previously volatile pastoralist counties where government operations have restored relative calm.
“We shall also commence an operation to mop up illegal firearms in Samburu, Laikipia, Isiolo and Meru counties. We are also intensifying efforts to recover stolen livestock and reorganising the NPRs in Meru and Isiolo counties to better protect the livestock.”