A man was shot dead during a violent cattle raid in Nyabiora village, Ntimaru, Migori County, on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
Police said a gang of about 16 armed men, wielding guns, arrows, and bows, stormed the village in broad daylight around 1 pm. The attackers drove away seven cows before abducting Thomas Machera, 32.
Machera’s body was later found in neighbouring Transmara South, Narok County, with a gunshot wound to the chest, an arrow lodged in his left leg, and another in the back of his head.
The killing sparked tension in the village, prompting heavy police deployment. Investigators said the motive was tied to cattle rustling, a persistent menace in the region.
Authorities confirmed that an inquest into the murder and theft had been launched, with the victim’s body moved to the mortuary for a postmortem.
Cattle rustling remains a security challenge in Migori and other parts of the Rift Valley, often leaving behind deaths, injuries, and economic disruption.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government is intensifying efforts to stamp out the practice. He announced fresh vetting of National Police Reservists (NPRs) to strengthen security operations and revealed that NPR officers will now operate under the direct command of local police commanders.
Murkomen further outlined long-term measures, including subsidized farm inputs and extension services, to encourage residents to embrace agriculture as an alternative livelihood.
