Herders have been put on alert after the lapse of a six-day ultimatum as the government launches an operation to catch the vigilantes suspected to hail from Samburu, Baringo, Marsabit, Laikipia and Wajir counties.
Banditry has in the recent past claimed lives of many Kenyans as well as being attributed to the loss of thousands of animals.
In a multi-agency security team comprising officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit, General Service Unit (GSU) and national government administration, illegal herds shall be sorted in Ngaremara, Aremiet and along with Losesia-Kom areas before spreading to other parts of the county.
County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding intimated that the security apparatus has already zoned the suspected areas and arrests shall be made soon.
“We have carried out aerial surveillance using a chopper to establish where the remaining illegal herders are,” Omoding said.
The security teams are well equipped with armoured vehicles to eject them.
It is suspected some of the armed herders are hiding in the Buffalo Springs and Shaba Sarova National Reserves, respectively.