The National Police Service-Kenya (NPS) has recovered
livestock suspected to have been stolen from Uganda by Kenyan youth raiders.
Ugandan authorities reported on Friday that they
suspected Turkana youths had made their way into Uganda and stolen cattle and
driven them towards the border of Kenya.
Following the report, officers from the National Police
Service- Kenya (NPS) were immediately called into action to block any possible
escape routes in order to track the cattle.
According to a statement by the NPS, the law enforcement unit
caught up with the suspects, which led to an exchange of gunfire, prompting the
raiders to escape.
The cattle were safely recovered in the course of the
operation.
NPS gave a warning to Kenyan citizens, saying that they
should not engage in any illegal activities, among them being cross-border
livestock theft and unlawful entries into neighbouring countries.
Earlier in March 2025, the government said that it was in
the process of deploying technology to enhance traceability of stolen livestock
as a way of curbing rustling in Turkana and other parts of the country where
such cases are rampant.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed on March 5, 2025, that a Geographic Information System (GIS) has been developed and is currently
being tested before it is rolled out.
The National Police Service (NPS), he said, established a
committee to oversee its implementation together with the developer to ensure
it meets all the requirements.
“The process has reached an advanced stage, with public
participation planned to allow Jibu Cyber Solutions to conduct a proof of
concept,” said Murkomen.
Then, the system was set to be rolled out in three counties
in the Rift Valley and four others in the Eastern region, he stated.
“This will test the
feasibility, impact, and adaptability of the GIS-based cattle tracking
technology, which will be integrated with real-time monitoring,” he explained.
The CS was responding to a question by Turkana Senator James
Lomen when he appeared before the Senate plenary.
Once fully implemented, he stated, the solution will be
linked to the existing National Police Service infrastructure at the Integrated
Control and Command Centre (IC3) to enhance security and response to livestock
theft incidents.