Police were forced to engage in a heavy gun exchange after they ambushed armed thieves during a patrol.
The police who were accompanied by National Police Reservists (NPR), got wind of the raid and responded swiftly to avert the loss of millions.
The incident happened at Kapkomon Village in Baringo County where 196 goats were stolen.
Following a heavy gunfight, the police dispersed the suspected bandits and recovered the stolen animals which were then handed back to the owners.
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No police officer was wounded during the altercation.
"On 21/3/2024 at 1130 hrs, armed bandits raided Kapkomon Village and made away with an unknown number of goats. A multi-agency team of NPS and NPRs who were on patrol responded and a heavy exchange of fire ensued between the Police and the suspected bandits," the police statement read in part.
"Consequently, Police recovered 196 goats and handed over the same to the rightful owners. No injuries were reported on the side of Officers and Reservists," it added.
The incident comes a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki unveiled state-of-the-art equipment to bolster police operations in the bandit-prone areas.
Kindiki noted that the government had already spent Ksh7 billion in improving police equipment and noted that several pieces of machinery including Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) had been acquired.
"Equipment and kitting of frontline officers currently deployed in Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in the North Eastern Region, the Boni Enclave, Upper Eastern Region, and North Rift Valley remains a key priority deliverable for the Kenya Kwanza Administration.
"Honoured this afternoon to commission and dispatch the first batch of equipment to support Operation Maliza Uhalifu in North Rift Valley which will be extended to cover The Northern Grazing Area of Meru County, Isiolo and Marsabit Counties and counter-terrorism efforts in North Eastern Region and the Boni Enclave in Lamu County," read the statement in part.
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