Nairobi , Kenya ( CNN ) -- In the worst single incident for Kenyan police in living memory , 38 officers were killed in northern Kenya over the weekend by heavily armed cattle rustlers , according to injured police reservists who were on the scene . Local media reports put the number at between 37 and 42 dead . Internal Security Minister Katoo Ole Metito would not give a total figure on how many police officers had died . Read more : Attack on Sunday school leaves child dead , others wounded . The police officers were part of an operation to recover cattle belonging to the Samburu tribe that had been stolen by the Turkana tribe , according to the minister . They were ambushed in a valley when a large group of Turkana fired on police , leaving dozens dead and many injured . The Turkana and Samburu , both pastoralist groups , have frequently engaged in tit-for-tat cattle rustling operations over many years . Villages in the region are heavily fortified by residents , and it 's not unusual to see cattle herders armed with automatic rifles . In the most recent incident , Turkana raided the Samburu last month and took a large amount of cattle , according to the internal security ministry . Read more : Kenya military reports success in Somali fight . The Kenyan government intervened and gave an ultimatum for the Turkana to return the cattle last Friday , or it would respond with force . The Turkana did not meet the deadline , prompting the police operation that ended in tragedy . Both Turkana and Samburu leaders have frequently asked for more security in the region from the government . They say the police are outmanned and outgunned . While visiting wounded officers who had been airlifted to a Nairobi hospital , the minister said the government is addressing those complaints . Read more : Is Barack Obama still Kenya 's favorite son ? `` The ratio of police to civilians in the country is far below the international standards , but we are looking for more resources to bring balance , '' he said , claiming the government is working to reconciling both communities . Some wounded police reservists recovering at the hospital were n't so sure . `` Reconciliation will only work if the Turkana are forcibly removed from Samburu territory . That 's the only solution , '' said Ledemiano Lenankani , a Samburu reservist . Lekirnyei Masianai , another reservist , agreed . `` There is no room for reconciliation . I 'll not put down my weapon while my community is being attacked . ''
The officers were trying to recover stolen cattle , a security guard says . The Mara and Samburu tribes have engaged in tit - for - tat cattle raiding together . It 's not unusual to see cattle herders armed with automatic rifles . The security minster says the government is trying to separate the two communities .