Tension as deadly cattle raid in Baragoi leaves six dead, eight injured
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, has sparked fresh concerns over rising insecurity in the region.
A resurgence of banditry in Samburu North has left six people dead and eight others injured in a brutal cattle raid in Baragoi.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, has sparked fresh concerns over rising insecurity in the region.
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Armed raiders reportedly stormed a settlement in the Kilepoi area before opening fire and making away with an unknown number of livestock.
Samburu North Deputy County Commissioner Samwel Mwangi confirmed the deaths, stating that police units had been deployed to restore calm.
"So far, we have retrieved six bodies from the scene. Our officers are on the ground to prevent further violence and to pursue attackers," he said.
Security units, including the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, the Rapid Deployment Unit and the National Police Reservists have been sent to the area to contain the situation.
The injured victims were rushed to Baragoi and Samburu County Referral Hospital for treatment while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Samburu County Referral Hospital in Maralal for post-mortem.
Tension among residents
The attack has triggered fresh tension among residents, many of whom fear possible retaliatory strikes.
Protests erupted in Baragoi town on Tuesday as locals demanded urgent government intervention to curb the rising insecurity. Demonstrators briefly lit old tyres in the town while calling for increased police presence.
The resurgence of banditry in Samburu North is a grim reminder of past conflicts in the region.
In November 2012, the area witnessed one of the deadliest attacks in Kenya’s history when more than 40 police officers and reservists were killed in Suguta Valley while on a mission to recover stolen cattle — a tragedy widely remembered as the "Baragoi Massacre."
After years of relative calm, the escalating violence suggests that illegal firearms remain a persistent challenge.
At least twelve people have been killed in banditry-related incidents in Samburu North this year alone.
The renewed attacks come just months after President William Ruto assured locals that the government would redeploy the Special Operations Group (SOG) to bolster security in the area.
During a previous disarmament operation, the elite military unit confiscated more than 96 illegal firearms from armed criminals.
Despite the efforts, locals argue that continued cattle raids indicate that armed herders are still in possession of illegal weapons, making peace in the region elusive.
Authorities have pledged to intensify security operations to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent further bloodshed.
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