Samburu youth are demanding compensation for families whose livestock were killed during a security operation in Samburu East, as pressure mounts on the government to investigate the incident.
The residents say more than 700 animals were killed during the operation that began on September 19 in Waso Ward, where security officers drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU) and Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) were deployed to tackle banditry and cattle rustling.
The losses have been reported across several areas, with cattle, goats and donkeys among the animals affected. Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit has put the estimated value of the livestock at about KSh70 million, with 43 families identified as affected.
The exact number of animals remains subject to verification, with different assessments producing varying figures. Earlier reports cited 517 animals, while subsequent assessments placed the losses at more than 700, including a figure of 763 livestock cited by the governor.
For the affected pastoralist families, the losses go beyond the immediate value of the animals. Livestock provide food and income and are also used to meet expenses such as school fees and medical costs, leaving some households facing serious financial difficulties.
The youth and affected families want the government to carry out an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings. They are also seeking compensation for families whose losses are verified and accountability for any officers found to have acted unlawfully.
The matter has since reached Parliament, where lawmakers summoned Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to respond to questions surrounding the operation.
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security is handling the petition presented by Governor Lelelit, affected families and other Samburu residents. The petitioners want senior security officials to explain who authorised the operation, the command structure used and the rules of engagement followed.
They have also called for measures to ensure future security operations distinguish between civilians and suspected criminals, particularly in pastoralist communities where livestock are central to livelihoods.
Murkomen has acknowledged that some livestock were killed during the operation while defending the government’s broader campaign against banditry. He said security agencies had been instructed to exercise greater caution to prevent unnecessary harm to civilians and their animals.
The government has not yet announced a compensation programme for the affected families. The parliamentary proceedings and any subsequent investigation are expected to establish the verified scale of the losses and determine what action should follow.
