Herder Injured in Four-Hour Gunfight With Bandits in Marsabit
A security team later navigated the difficult terrain and rescued the injured herder, who was reported to be in stable condition.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
An 18-year-old herder was injured in a four-hour gunfight between herders and suspected armed bandits in Dakaiye, Loiyangalani Sub-County, Marsabit County.
The incident occurred on October 11, 2026, after a group of herders went looking for three camels that had strayed the previous day.
According to a police report, the herders recovered six of the nine missing camels in the Kino area before they were ambushed by an unknown number of suspected armed bandits while searching for the remaining animals.
The confrontation sparked an exchange of gunfire that lasted approximately four hours, leaving the teenage herder with multiple gunshot wounds.
The report indicated that one bullet struck him in the left hip and exited through the genital area and right thigh. He also sustained another gunshot wound on the left side of his rib cage, with the possibility that the bullet remained lodged in his body.
A security team later navigated the difficult terrain and rescued the injured herder, who was reported to be in stable condition.
He was taken to Loiy-Care Medical Clinic for first aid as arrangements were made to transfer him to Marsabit County Hospital for further treatment.
Police said tension remained high in the area following the confrontation.
The incident comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of Marsabit County, where livestock theft and armed clashes have contributed to insecurity among pastoralist communities. The area is among those covered by a special security operation targeting cattle rustling.
Man Shot During Livestock Grazing Dispute in Meru
In a separate incident, a man was shot in the right knee after confronting a suspected herdsman over livestock grazing on cultivated land in Mworomatoo, Mutuati Sub-County, Meru County.
The victim reportedly questioned the herdsman and asked him to remove the animals from the cultivated farms before the shooting occurred.
Witnesses said the suspected gunman was among a group of herders driving livestock from a village when the man was shot.
Police said the suspect fled the scene following the Sunday incident, and his identity and whereabouts had not been established.
Eastern Regional Police Commander Stephen Chebet said the injured man was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police said investigations were underway to identify and arrest the suspected gunman and establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
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