Livestock minister Mohammed Kuti has criticized a security operation mounted in Samburu district in March describing it as a failure.

Kuti was speaking at the Isiolo District Hospital when he visited several people injured during a shoot out between police officers and cattle rustlers in the area this week.

During the incident 6 policemen were shot dead while several others are nursing wounds in hospital.

This has prompted Kuti to describe the security situation in some parts of North Eastern province as worsening.

Over 100 armed cattle rustlers overpowered the police and got away with over 820 cattle leaving 3 policemen, 3 reservists and a herdsman dead.

Over 300 police officers have been sent to the area to beef up security.

The attack on the security officers come two months after a government operation to recover stolen livestock in the district was called off in mid-March.

According to the area administrators the herders together with thousands of livestock invaded Buffalo and Shaba game reserves in search of water and pasture two weeks ago where they have been staging attacks on tourists and raiding livestock.

They have also been reluctant to move out despite a resolution with their leaders on the matter.

Elsewhere in Nakuru, 3 people were arrested with fake US dollar bills worth 4.6 million shillings.

On apprehension, the 3 who included a woman named another accomplice.

Victims claimed they were lured into the trap by being told they would get double the amounts of the money they gave out for exchange.