Six Killed, Eight Injured in Deadly Cattle Rustling Attack in Baragoi, Samburu
Samburu, Kenya — At least six people were shot dead and eight others seriously injured in a violent cattle rustling incident in Baragoi, Samburu County, on Tuesday morning.
According to officials, heavily armed raiders stormed Kilepoi area in Samburu North, opening fire before driving away an estimated 700 livestock. The attack sparked tension across the region, which has long struggled with recurrent banditry and retaliatory raids.
Samburu North Deputy County Commissioner Samwel Mwangi confirmed that a multi-agency security team managed to recover about 150 animals, adding that officers were still in pursuit of the attackers.
The pursuit is ongoing, and we expect to make more recoveries, Mwangi said.
The injured were rushed to Baragoi Sub-County Hospital and Samburu County Referral Hospital in Maralal, where medical teams continue to monitor their condition. County health services head Dr. Josephat Lenguris confirmed that all the survivors were in stable condition.
Bodies of the deceased were taken to the Samburu County Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations.
Following the attack, residents staged protests, demanding urgent government intervention to curb escalating insecurity in the region. Local leaders have repeatedly raised concerns over increased cattle rustling incidents in recent months.
Police spokesman Michael Muchiri said additional personnel have been deployed to support the ongoing operation and reinforce security in the volatile area.
The latest incident comes just weeks after a police officer was shot dead in an ambush in Marti area, highlighting persistent security challenges in the region. Baragoi remains one of Kenya’s most notorious banditry hotspots, with the area still haunted by the 2012 massacre in which more than 40 police officers were killed.
Security agencies have vowed to intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering, and community collaboration to curb livestock theft and restore peace.