Seven killed in coordinated cattle-rustling attacks in Kenya
Seven people, including police reservists, were killed in coordinated cattle-rustling attacks across multiple villages in upper eastern Kenya on Saturday. The raids, which occurred near the Meru-Isiolo border region, also left several residents injured and resulted in the theft of over 600 livestock.
Local authorities confirmed that armed groups carried out near-simultaneous attacks, targeting both civilians and reservists attempting to defend their communities. Reinforcements have been deployed to secure vulnerable villages, and investigations are ongoing to track the perpetrators.
Cattle rustling has long been a source of tension in northern and upper eastern Kenya, where competing communities vie for pasture and water. Criminal networks exploit porous borders to move stolen animals, often triggering cycles of retaliation and further violence. Security officials stress the need for sustained intervention to prevent recurring attacks in the Meru-Isiolo corridor.
