The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Six people were killed on Tuesday after a bandit attack in Illeret area of Marsabit County, close to the Kenya–Ethiopia border.
Police reported that eight others sustained serious injuries during the incident.
The attackers are said to have crossed into Kenya from Ethiopia’s Hamar villages and struck El-Anybura village, targeting residents from the Dasnach community who live along the border.
Authorities said the assailants made away with approximately 500 cattle and more than 200 goats, while dozens of other animals were shot dead during the raid.
Security officials confirmed that four of the attackers were also killed in a confrontation as locals resisted the attack. The remaining raiders later retreated back into Ethiopia with the stolen livestock.
On Wednesday, security personnel were deployed to the area to deter possible revenge attacks and restore stability.
Officials also disclosed that Ethiopian authorities sent a delegation into Kenya for joint consultations, a step that helped calm tensions between the two communities.
Efforts were launched to track and recover the stolen animals, even as families in the area began burial arrangements for the victims.
The injured were taken to Bubua Health Centre in Ethiopia for medical treatment. Illeret is a remote border region where communities live and interact on both sides of the Kenya–Ethiopia boundary.
The area has long been prone to recurring cross-border raids linked to banditry and livestock theft, despite continued security operations.
Marsabit is among the counties covered under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, a multi-agency security initiative targeting banditry and related crimes across regions including Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Meru, and Isiolo.
While authorities say the operation has reduced crime in some areas, sporadic attacks continue to occur.
Beyond security measures, the government says it is pursuing long-term solutions focused on development and community empowerment.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has previously said the approach includes involving local communities in combating livestock theft while promoting lawful economic activities, including support for farming through subsidised inputs and extension services in northern Kenya and the Kerio Valley.
