Police are investigating the killing of a 39-year-old man in Samburu County after he was shot in the head by suspected cattle rustlers.
The victim, identified as Joseph Long, was in the Loko area on Sunday evening, clearing bushes alongside others in preparation for charcoal burning when the attack happened. Witnesses said about 20 armed men stormed the forest, opening fire and causing chaos. Long was fatally shot while his colleagues fled for safety within Leaduma Farm.
The attackers disappeared into the forest immediately after the incident. Locals later retrieved Long’s body and carried it for several kilometres to the nearest mortuary for preservation as authorities launched investigations.
The motive of the shooting remains unclear, but early reports suggest the assailants were cattle rustlers targeting livestock in the area. Police said the matter is under active investigation, with security teams working to trace the attackers.
The killing highlights the persistent insecurity in the North Rift and northern Kenya, where cattle rustling and armed banditry remain a challenge despite ongoing security operations. Samburu is one of several counties affected by frequent attacks that disrupt livelihoods and hinder development.
Meanwhile, in Buulu, Meru County, police officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit faced a separate attack while on patrol in the Shaffa area. An unknown number of armed bandits ambushed the officers, sparking a fierce exchange of fire. During the confrontation, one officer lost his G3 rifle with 20 rounds of ammunition after it got stuck on the door of a patrol vehicle. In the heat of the moment, the officer abandoned the weapon and rolled into a ditch for cover. The gunmen quickly seized the rifle before escaping.
Additional police reinforcements arrived at the scene and managed to rescue the officers, who had taken cover in the bushes during the firefight. Despite a manhunt launched soon after, the attackers managed to evade capture.
Authorities say both incidents reflect the continued threat posed by armed gangs in Samburu, Meru, and neighbouring counties, where security operations are ongoing. Dozens of police and military personnel have been deployed to hotspots including Samburu, Marsabit, Turkana, Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot in efforts to suppress cattle rustling and banditry.
