Twenty seven suspected cattle rustlers have been arrested in various police operations in Kisumu, County Commissioner John Elungata has said.
Speaking to the press on Thursday at his office, Mr Elungata said 13 of those arrested were apprehended in Nyakach after being accused of stealing three cows on Tuesday night.
The suspects who were found armed with arrows according to Elungata are said to have wounded two people, Asoro Nyong’u and Rose Otieno on Monday night when they tried to raise an alarm.
The animals were later recovered by the officers hidden in a bush. Elungata said out of the 29 most wanted rustlers, two are still on the run.
He said 14 others had been arrested since the operation commenced two weeks ago as the war against rustling in Kibigori along the Kisumu-Nandi border.
“We have taken some to court with others still being interrogated,” the commissioner said.
Assistant Inspector General of police Joseph Keitany said among the suspects is a woman who was found with a stolen cow at Fortenan area in Kipkelion.
“We have so far arrested 16 of the suspects in different operations both in Nandi and Kisumu counties,” he said.
He said five of the suspects will be charged with robbery with violence and three with stock theft.
The arrest happened barely two weeks after the Kisumu county security team chaired by Elungata released names of those linked to animal theft in the area.
The team had named 50 rustlers and traders linked to animal theft. The group was later scrutinised to 29 key suspects.
Keitany said the main suspect and trainer of criminals Willy Kabur was shot dead at Potopoto area.
He said the government have also formed an anti-stock theft unit in Kibigori to end the clashes and rustling.
Patrol and investigations have been intense in Kibigori area after clashes that left three people killed and 15 others seriously injured over animal theft.
The conflict was ignited by rustling between the Luo and Kalenjin. Eight houses were burnt in Kibigori.
Clan clashes between people from Nandi and Kisumu counties at Muhoroni have been occasioned by animal theft.