Police officers in Yala, Siaya County, are investigating a livestock theft incident after intercepting a vehicle ferrying three suspected stolen cows during a pre-dawn chase along the Butere–Ulumbi road.
According to police, officers from Yala Police Station were on a routine mobile patrol when they spotted a suspicious Toyota Caldina, registration number KBK 404G, moving along the road at around dawn. Their attempt to stop the vehicle triggered a brief chase.
“The officers intercepted a suspicious Toyota Caldina (registration KBK 404G) which was carrying three suspected stolen cows following a pre-dawn chase,” the National Police Service (NPS) said in a statement.
Before the vehicle could be fully secured, the four occupants jumped out and fled on foot into nearby farms and thickets, leaving the livestock and the car behind. Police say the suspects escaped before their identities could be established, but officers have already launched a manhunt.
“The four occupants fled on foot, abandoning the vehicle,” the statement added.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of additional items believed to be linked to the crime. Among them were a kitchen knife and a mobile phone, which officers believe may help in identifying the suspects or tracing their movements before the incident.
“Upon a further search, a kitchen knife and a mobile phone were recovered,” the NPS noted.
The three cows, suspected to have been stolen earlier in the night, were secured and handed over to the police as investigations continued. The recovered vehicle was also towed to Yala Police Station, where it is being held as an exhibit while detectives analyze crucial leads.
“The vehicle was impounded at the station to await further processing, while the other exhibits were secured,” police said, adding that “a team of officers is following crucial leads to trace and apprehend the culprits so they can face the necessary charges.”
The National Police Service has since commended the officers involved for their alertness, saying their quick response prevented the livestock from disappearing further and potentially helped disrupt a wider criminal network involved in cattle theft.
