A teenage girl abducted by suspected armed bandits in Yatya Village, Baringo North Subcounty, has been rescued more than 100 kilometres away in Silale, Tiaty Central, following an intense three-day search. The Grade 7 student was kidnapped during a violent raid on her family home on Friday, June 6, in an incident that also saw her elder brother abducted. He later managed to escape and alerted authorities.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the successful rescue, lauding the efforts of local administrators, police officers, and community members for the coordinated operation that led to the girl’s recovery. He noted that the child and her brother will receive psychosocial support to help them cope with the trauma.
“If the family agrees, we have offered to transfer the children to a boarding school outside their home subcounty where they can study in a safer and more peaceful environment,” said Murkomen.
While the motive behind the kidnapping remains unclear, the area is one of several under the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu—a government initiative targeting rampant banditry and cattle rustling in Northern Kenya. The operation covers counties such as Baringo, Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Meru.
Murkomen also directed fresh vetting of all National Police Reservists (NPRs) in the region and instructed county officers to organize a community dialogue meeting to address underlying causes of conflict. “We are not only targeting the criminals but also dismantling the broader cattle rustling economy that fuels such atrocities,” he said.
The Kenya Red Cross has partnered with authorities to provide psychosocial and medical support to the rescued girl and her family.
Murkomen emphasized that beyond security operations, the government is investing in sustainable development for the region. Plans include the distribution of subsidized farm inputs and extension services to revive agriculture as a stable source of livelihood and reduce dependency on livestock.
The rescue serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts to restore peace and protect vulnerable communities in Kenya’s bandit-prone regions.
