Tension has gripped Burat Ward in Isiolo County after three people, including a seven-year-old boy, were killed in a cattle rustling attack at Lowangishu Hills near Loruko settlement.
The incident, which occurred at around 7:15 p.m. on Monday, October 26, also saw 203 cows and 21 camels stolen from herders in Loruko and Ngarendare villages.
A further 35 cows and two camels were reportedly shot and injured or killed during the raid.
According to Loruko area manager Raman Lengukuai, the armed attackers opened fire at a manyatta shortly after the livestock returned from a watering point, triggering a gunfight with those at the homestead.
Two of the suspected raiders were killed during the exchange of fire, while the seven-year-old boy, who was at the manyatta during the attack, was caught in the crossfire and died on the spot.
The incident has heightened fears of renewed inter-community hostilities in the area, with residents calling on security agencies to recover the stolen livestock and prevent further violence.
Ramiti Lengirnas, an elder from Loruko who lost 65 cows in the raid, appealed to the government to move swiftly and recover the animals, saying the attack had left affected families economically devastated.
Lengirnas claimed the raid was carried out by armed bandits suspected to be from the neighbouring Turkana community, challenging the perception that such attacks were mainly perpetrated by Samburu morans.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
Isiolo County Assembly Deputy Speaker David Lemantile condemned the attack and urged security agencies to prioritise the recovery of the stolen livestock and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Lemantile, who is also the Oldonyiro Ward MCA, appealed to affected herders from Loruko and Ngarendare to remain calm and avoid retaliatory attacks.
He warned that revenge raids would only deepen hostilities and perpetuate a cycle of killings and livestock theft.
“Revenge attacks end up in an unending cycle of raids and killings, and no one emerges victorious,” Lemantile said.
He urged pastoralist communities in the region to engage in dialogue and agree on peaceful ways of sharing available pasture and water resources, which are critical to their livelihoods.
The Deputy Speaker noted that the incident involved communities from within Isiolo County and called on the County Commissioner, County Police Commander and Governor to intervene, facilitate the recovery of the stolen animals and promote peaceful coexistence.
Lemantile also questioned how the attackers managed to execute the raid despite the presence of security installations in the surrounding area.
He pointed to police posts in Mlango and Alamach, asking how such an operation could have been planned and carried out without security intelligence detecting it.
The leader called for heightened vigilance and an effective security response to prevent further attacks.
Meanwhile, three people were reportedly injured during the incident. According to Lemantile, only one remained admitted to hospital, while the other two sustained minor injuries and were recuperating at home.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over cattle rustling, competition for scarce pastoral resources and inter-community tensions in the region, with calls growing for urgent government intervention to restore security and protect residents’ livelihoods.
