Samburu families seek KSh 70m after police operation kills hundreds of livestock

Residents and leaders of Samburu County have asked Parliament to help secure KSh 70 million in compensation for 43 families whose livestock were killed during a police security operation in Samburu East. Governor Lati Lelelit led the petition to the National Assembly's Security Committee, Citizen Digital reported on 2 October 2026.

The county puts the toll at more than 700 animals. The claim is unverified: the figures come from county leaders, and no independent count or official government tally has been published in the available reports.

What the county says was lost

According to People Daily (29 September), the governor itemised the losses across four locations: Komgala (102 cows), Nengardedi (243 cows, 116 goats, 29 donkeys), Lake Lash (287 cows, 54 donkeys) and Kapuru (132 cows). The paper gives totals of 764 cows, 116 goats and 83 donkeys, plus about 30 wounded animals later slaughtered. That is more than the "over 700" animals cited in other county-sourced reports, and the reports do not explain the gap.

The paper said county leaders applied an estimated value of KSh 80,000 to KSh 100,000 per animal. Lelelit said the county was seeking only the market value. "We are only asking for the nominal valuation of our animals. We are not really asking the intrinsic value," he was quoted as saying. The paper said the KSh 70 million excludes milk production, future calvings and the animals' wider economic contribution.

A separate tally came from Samburu Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi, who addressed the Senate on 23 September, according to People Daily. He said 415 goats and 102 cattle had been killed at Losesia and Nolng'erdeed on 19 and 21 September, and that two residents were shot and wounded. The two counts differ in species and totals, and the reports do not reconcile them.

The operation and the government's response

The senator said officers of the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) conducted the operation. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen described it as an intelligence-led security operation against banditry and illegal firearms.

Murkomen defended the operation, Citizen Digital reported on 26 September. He said officers "must take the greatest precaution to ensure that there is no collateral damage in terms of civilians or their animals", and that the operation would continue until people with illegal firearms were "dealt with, with finality". Citizen Digital said he expressed regret over the livestock losses.

Senator Lelegwe said "not one bandit has been reported arrested" and "not one stolen animal has been reported recovered", and called for investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the police Internal Affairs Unit.

Lelelit rejected what he described as Murkomen's claim that bandits were hiding among the cattle, TV47 reported on 29 September. He argued that if they were, some would have been hurt or killed. TV47 also reported that he said the families preferred to negotiate directly with the government rather than pursue more court cases, because earlier cases over livestock killings in Laikipia produced "zero compensation".

Community reaction

Citizen Digital reported that resident Raphael Lenayara described the incident as economic sabotage of the community. A student quoted by the outlet voiced concern about affording continued education.

Lelelit estimated that more than 15,000 residents of Waso, Wamba East, Wamba West and Wamba North wards had left their homes over security concerns, People Daily reported. That figure is the governor's estimate and has not been independently verified.

What happens next

The available reports do not say that the Security Committee has reached a decision. The petition asks for President William Ruto's intervention. Whether IPOA or another body will investigate is not stated in any source.