Milking Meru Dry: How Bandit Gangs Profit From Stolen Livestock

The wave of bandit attacks sweeping across Meru County has left communities in Buuri and neighbouring areas reeling, with livestock thefts, violent raids and mounting insecurity eroding livelihoods and trust in government assurances. 

Despite repeated pledges of intervention, residents say the menace continues unchecked, exposing the fragility of state authority in regions long vulnerable to armed rustling. On the night of 28 November, Bishop Richard Mwenda of Maili Saba witnessed one of the most brazen assaults yet. 

A group of around 40 armed men stormed the village, firing into the air to intimidate residents while systematically identifying and driving away livestock. Mwenda lost 19 cattle, 22 goats and eight sheep in the raid. His account reflects a pattern of organised operations in which bandits move from homestead to homestead, striking with precision and leaving families impoverished.

The attacks have since become routine. In early December, five assailants targeted the home of Stephen Guantai in Maili Nane, shooting through his door before escaping with four cattle. Guantai narrowly survived after a bullet grazed his head. Former councillor Patrick Gakuubi has also suffered losses, reporting that thieves not only stole his animals but also looted his restaurant. 

Residents of Kithima location, overwhelmed by repeated incursions, are selling off their herds in desperation. Many accuse elements within the community of colluding with the rustlers, fuelling suspicions of a localised theft syndicate cynically referred to as “Meru’s ATM” for its ease of operation. The cumulative toll is stark: in just three months, more than 300 cattle have been stolen from eight households, leaving families destitute as the festive season and school reopening approach.

Public frustration has spilled onto the streets, with demonstrations along the Nanyuki–Isiolo road demanding urgent intervention. Yet official responses remain contested. Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma insists that additional security measures have been deployed and points to arrests made in mid-December, when three suspects were detained over the theft of 26 goats. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has vowed to “smoke out” the bandits, declaring that the government will not tolerate further humiliation.

However, local leaders argue that promises have not translated into tangible protection. Governor Isaac Mutuma has accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of failing to honour a commitment to launch a security operation by 5 December, despite a meeting with police chiefs and Meru representatives earlier that month. 

The killing of three people, including two National Police Reservists, has heightened the urgency of the situation, yet residents say no meaningful recovery of stolen livestock has been achieved. The persistence of raids despite high-level pronouncements illustrates a deeper governance challenge. For years, proposals such as deploying rumen tracking devices or establishing buffer zones between Meru and Isiolo have been floated, but none have delivered lasting results. 

The bandits’ ability to strike repeatedly, often within days of government warnings, signals both their organisation and the limitations of current policing strategies.

As Meru grapples with this crisis, the stakes extend beyond livestock losses. The erosion of livelihoods threatens food security, education and social cohesion, while the perception of state inaction risks undermining public confidence in national institutions.