Three men were brutally killed in an attack at Angata Barikoi area on the border of Ntimaru and Transmara subcounties in Migori County. The incident, which occurred on October 5, 2025, has raised tensions among residents as authorities pursue the assailants believed to have targeted livestock in the area.
According to police reports, the attackers invaded Gairoro area under unclear circumstances, prompting locals to raise an alarm. When three young men—John Marwa Babere, 25, Sibora Mirumbe, 24, and Joseph Mwisari, 23—responded to the distress call, they were ambushed and killed. The victims were shot and later slashed by the assailants, who fled immediately after the gruesome attack.
Investigators suspect that the attack was linked to cattle theft, a recurrent problem in the region. The incident has sparked fear and anger among locals, who are demanding swift justice for the victims. In response, security forces have intensified patrols and deployed additional personnel to the area to maintain calm and prevent retaliatory violence.
The Angata Barikoi and Gairoro regions have long struggled with incidents of cattle rustling and land-related conflicts. Authorities acknowledge that the area remains a hotspot for cross-border raids between Migori and Transmara. Officials have attributed the persistent violence to disputes over grazing land and livestock, coupled with the proliferation of illegal firearms.
Earlier in April 2025, six people were killed in a similar confrontation rooted in land disputes, highlighting the fragile peace in the region. To curb such violence, the government has stationed members of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) in the area as part of ongoing efforts to address the menace.
Nationally, the government’s Operation Maliza Uhalifu continues to target banditry and cattle rustling across Kenya’s northern frontier counties, including Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Meru, and Isiolo. Authorities are also investing in long-term solutions, focusing on community empowerment through agricultural programs and development projects.
The Interior Ministry has emphasized that sustainable peace will only be achieved by reducing reliance on livestock raiding and promoting legitimate economic activities. Plans are underway to support residents with subsidized farm inputs and extension services aimed at reviving agriculture as an alternative source of livelihood.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Mikinduri, Meru County, police have launched a murder investigation after a man, Peter Kaarithi, succumbed to injuries sustained in a fight. He died while receiving treatment at the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital on October 4, 2025.
