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 .
The officers were trying to recover stolen cattle , a security official says . The Turkana and Samburu tribes have engaged in tit-for-tat cattle rustling operations . It 's not unusual to see cattle herders armed with automatic rifles . The security minster says the government is trying to reconcile the two communities .