# Banditry and security operations in Kenya

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/banditry-and-security-operations-in-kenya
> Updated: 2026-09-27T18:18:07.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Banditry and cattle-rustling violence have escalated in Kenya’s northern and Rift Valley regions, specifically impacting Isiolo and Samburu counties. In mid-September, an ambush in Isiolo County’s Gotu area resulted in the deaths of five people, including two officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and a member of the National Police Reserve.

In response to these patterns of violence, the Kenyan government has intensified security operations under the ‘Operation Maliza Uhalifu’ initiative. Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that these efforts target individuals suspected of possessing illegal firearms and those involved in attacks against civilians, livestock, and security personnel. Authorities reported recovering over 3,000 illegal firearms and 8,000 rounds of ammunition within the wider Kerio Valley region.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-27: Kenya intensifies security operations in Samburu and Isiolo

Kenya has ramped up security operations in Samburu and Isiolo counties to target banditry and illegal firearms, with officials reporting the recovery of thousands of weapons in the Kerio Valley region.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kenya-intensifies-security-operations-in-samburu-and-isiolo

### 2026-09-16: Isiolo County: Five killed, including two police officers, in bandit ambush

Five people, including two police officers, were killed in a bandit ambush in Gotu, Isiolo County, during a search for a murder victim. The attack follows a series of cattle-rustling incidents in the region.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/isiolo-county-five-killed-including-two-police-officers-in-bandit-ambush

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Cite as: Banditry and security operations in Kenya. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/banditry-and-security-operations-in-kenya