Security officers in Bura East Subcounty, Garissa County, have arrested six suspects and recovered six stolen donkeys following a coordinated police operation conducted early Saturday morning. The suspects were intercepted while attempting to load the animals onto a lorry in Al Emej Village.
According to the police, the donkeys were promptly identified and handed back to their rightful owners. The suspects were detained and are currently awaiting processing and arraignment in court. The operation was hailed as a success, with authorities crediting the collaboration between local residents, the administration, and police officers for the quick recovery.
The National Police Service commended the vigilance of its officers and the community’s cooperation, emphasizing that such partnerships are crucial in addressing livestock theft and other rural crimes. Police urged the public to continue providing timely information to help combat the rising cases of animal theft, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where livestock and donkeys play a central role in transportation and livelihoods.
Residents were reminded that crime reports can be made through emergency numbers 999, 911, and 112, or via the anonymous #FichuaKwaDCI hotline at 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp 0709 570 000.
The recovery comes amid growing concern over livestock theft in northern Kenya, with authorities intensifying operations to dismantle criminal networks involved in the trade. Police have vowed to take stern action against perpetrators and to continue enhancing security in affected areas.
In a separate incident in Nairobi, officers from Muthangari Police Station arrested a suspect believed to be involved in a mobile phone theft ring. The arrest followed a tip-off during a routine foot patrol. Officers proceeded to the suspect’s home in Soko Mjinga, where they conducted a search that led to the recovery of three mobile phones—an iPhone, an HDM, and a G73—all wrapped in foil paper. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
Last week, a similar livestock recovery operation in Meru County saw police and National Police Reservists exchange fire with thieves before successfully reclaiming stolen animals. Authorities reiterated their commitment to combating livestock theft and safeguarding livelihoods, assuring Kenyans that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in protecting both rural and urban communities from criminal activities.
