A 23-year-old man was shot and killed in an early morning robbery in Maralal, Samburu County, as armed bandits raided a home in Ngano village, Poro location. The attack, which occurred at dawn on Thursday, saw the assailants attempt to steal livestock, resulting in the tragic death of Leonard Lendunda.
According to police reports, Lendunda had stepped outside his house after hearing a commotion when he was shot in the left side of his chest. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot. The attackers proceeded to steal five cows from the compound before making their escape.
Local National Police Reservists (NPR), who were nearby, responded promptly upon hearing gunfire. They pursued the gang towards Opiroi, where they ambushed them, leading to a shootout. The armed criminals were forced to flee, abandoning the stolen livestock, which was later returned to the owner.
Police officers visited the scene to collect evidence and transported Lendunda’s body to a local mortuary for an autopsy. Authorities have launched a murder investigation and are pursuing the gang responsible for the attack.
Despite this isolated incident, authorities report a significant reduction in banditry and cattle rustling in the region due to ongoing security operations. In 2023, the government recruited and trained 1,702 NPR reservists across counties plagued by insecurity, including Samburu, Baringo, Laikipia, Meru, Turkana, and West Pokot. An additional 400 NPR officers in Elgeyo Marakwet and Isiolo were re-armed to strengthen security efforts.
As part of efforts to improve governance and service delivery, the government gazetted 126 new administrative units across the North Rift, aimed at enhancing local administration and ensuring a quicker response to security challenges. These measures have contributed to a 62% decline in cattle rustling cases. According to the Ministry of Interior, the number of stolen livestock dropped from 63,054 to 23,668, while 172 illegal firearms were recovered in ongoing disarmament efforts.
Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift, launched in February 2023, has played a crucial role in curbing banditry and cattle rustling in the nine most affected counties. This coordinated effort between the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has led to the arrest of 250 suspects, including 14 political leaders suspected of funding banditry.
As investigations continue into the Maralal incident, authorities remain committed to ensuring peace and security in the region. Police have urged residents to report any suspicious activities as efforts intensify to bring the perpetrators to justice.
