At least twelve people were killed when suspected heavily armed cattle rustlers made two simultaneous attacks at a manyatta and a police post in Sagante/Jardesa ward, Saku constituency in Marsabit County on Tuesday night.
The Marsabit County Commissioner (CC), Evans Achoki said the government has taken appropriate security measures to calm the situation, including a combined air and ground intense operation.
Achoki added that three police officers attached to Jardesa police post were gunned down as they ventured out to answer to the distress call from Kukuto village in Qilta location where unknown number of rustlers armed with rifles had raided.
The CC who is also the Chairman of the County Security Committee said the raiders killed eight herders and a child before making away with about 800 heads of cattle during the attack.
He told KNA on Wednesday that the operation aimed at pursing and bringing to book the suspects and recovering the stolen animals was in progress with more than 100 heads of cattle so far recovered.
The administrator warned against cattle rustling, adding that the government will firmly deal with any attempts to creep back the outlawed practice.
Achoki appealed for calm as the government address the situation, noting that all culprits will be arrested and punished for the crime committed.
Bodies of the slain police officers were removed to Marsabit County Referral Hospital while a team of doctors was dispatched to Qilta to conduct postmortem on bodies of the villagers shot dead during the attack.
By Sebastian Miriti
