Three people, including a seven-year-old boy, have been killed in a livestock raid in Burat Ward, Isiolo County, after armed attackers stole 203 cows and 21 camels from herders near Lowangishu Hills, prompting calls for urgent security intervention to prevent retaliatory violence.
The attack occurred on Monday, October 26, evening near Loruko settlement, where herders from Loruko and Ngarendare villages lost their livestock. According to local leaders, 35 cows and two camels were also shot and either died or sustained gunshot wounds during the incident.
Loruko area manager Raman Lengukuai said the attackers struck at around 7:15 pm as livestock returned from a watering point. The armed men reportedly opened fire on a manyatta, triggering an exchange of gunfire before they drove away the herd.
Two suspected raiders were killed during the confrontation, while the seven-year-old boy, who was at the manyatta when the attack occurred, was caught in the crossfire and died at the scene.
The raid has left affected families counting substantial losses, with residents demanding that security agencies move swiftly to recover the stolen animals and prevent further violence.
Ramiti Lengirnas, an elder from Loruko who lost 65 cows, appealed to the government to intensify security operations and return the livestock to its owners, saying the affected community had been impoverished by the raid.
Lengirnas disputed the assumption that attacks in the area were primarily carried out by Samburu morans, alleging that the latest raid involved armed individuals suspected to be from the neighbouring Turkana community. The identities and community affiliations of the attackers had not been independently established.
Isiolo County Assembly Deputy Speaker David Lemantile, who visited the affected herders at Lowangishu Hills, condemned the killings and called for the recovery of the stolen animals and the pursuit of those responsible.
Lemantile, who also represents Oldonyiro Ward, urged residents of Loruko and Ngarendare to remain calm and reject retaliatory attacks, warning that revenge would perpetuate a cycle of livestock raids, injuries and killings.
He called on pastoralist communities to engage in dialogue over access to pasture and other shared resources, arguing that peaceful coexistence was necessary to address the recurring tensions.
The deputy speaker further urged the Isiolo County Commissioner, County Police Commander and Governor to coordinate efforts to recover the livestock and bring the affected communities together to prevent similar incidents.
He also questioned how the raid could have been carried out despite the presence of police posts at Mlango and Alamach, demanding accountability from security agencies over their ability to detect and prevent such attacks.
Of the three people injured during the incident, Lemantile said one was admitted to hospital, while the other two sustained minor injuries and were recovering at home.
The immediate priorities remain the recovery of the stolen livestock, investigations into the killings and measures to prevent further attacks as tensions rise in the affected communities.
