Tension high as bandits raid Laikipia village

Tension is high at Matwiku in Laikipia after bandits raided homes. [File]

Tension is high at Matwiku in Laikipia after bandits raided homes before making away with more than 200 sheep.

A police officer was reportedly injured as they exchanged fire with the bandits.

The attackers are believed to be from the neighbouring Baringo county.

They raided homes on Thursday night where they shot several times in the air to repulse residents.

Resident Jane Muthoni said she saw seven of them, all armed, from inside her house as they stormed her cowshed.

“They moved away all my 30 sheep as one of them shot in the air. I did not come out for fear of being shot,” she said.

Muthoni said they then raided other homes before escaping towards Baringo through the vast Laikipia Nature and Conservancy ranch.

Leaders from the area have raised concern over rising insecurity that has seen more than 500 sheep and an unknown number of cattle stolen in two weeks.

The leaders said the spate of crimes by suspected cattle rustlers is worrying residents in Matwiku, Wangwachi, Kamwenje and Ol-Moran.

They urged the government to order a security operation to arrest the bandits.

Githiga MCA Peter Thomi and his nominated counterpart Irene Wachuka said they petitioned the government to protect residents.

They added hardly a day passes without reports of livestock theft or murders.

“It is time the government took the matter seriously. We cannot be having cases of cattle rustling daily yet no action is being taken," Thomi said.

No arrests have been made since the incident.

“Let the government deploy more officers in the affected areas. It is saddening to know that to date, no arrests have been made or any animal taken back."