Death toll from cattle rustling attack in northwest Kenya has risen to 30 after the authorities found 19 more bodies late on Sunday.

The move comes as residents said tension was high in the area over retaliatory attacks between the police and bandits following attacks on Saturday.

Police confirmed on Monday some 13 other police officers were injured and are receiving treatment in various hospitals in Nairobi and in Rift Valley.

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo said joint security forces while pursuing stolen livestock were ambushed by suspected Turkana bandits at about 4 a.m. local time on Saturday in Lomerok area, Nachora Location, of Samburu North District.

"During the contact, it is unfortunate that 11 police officers were shot dead, while five others and two Kenya Police Reservists sustained gunshot wounds. The injured have been flown to Nairobi for treatment and are in stable condition," Iringo said in a statement received on Monday.

Sources within the police said two senior police officers as the security have launched a major manhunt for the bandits who have so far killed some 43 people in the past two weeks.

"May I take this opportunity to warn elements engaged in criminal activities (cattle rustling) in the area that the government will not condone their illegal activities which lead to loss of life and property," Iringo warned.

He said the government has beefed up security in the troubled region, stressing those additional security officers will continue with the operation to apprehend the bandits to restore peace and security in the area.

"I call upon the local leaders to spearhead peace and reconciliation in the county. I also request the media to always cross-check with the relevant authorities the accuracy of information before passing it over to the public," Iringo said.

The move comes as Kenya's referral hospital, said seven security officers which are being hospitalized following Saturday's attack are in stable condition.

In a statement, Kenyatta National Hospital's acting Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager, Kibet Mengich said the nine regular police officers and two police reservists suffered gun- shot wounds, soft tissue injuries, fractures, lower limb and abdomen injuries following the attack.

"All of them are male. Two are admitted with gun-shot wounds on various parts of the body while seven are admitted with soft tissue injuries, fractures, lower limb and abdomen injuries," Mengich said.

The officers were on a mission to recover stolen livestock when they were ambushed by the bandits who sprayed them with bullets.

Sources said the armed bandits laid an ambush in Lomelok area before spraying the officers with bullets in an attack that baffled the local administration as well as residents of Baragoi.

On Oct. 30, at least 13 people were killed and three others seriously injured in tribal clashes involving two communities a few kilometres from the same area.

Local leaders said the clashes occurred when heavily armed raiders from the Samburu community invaded a village and stole 205 camels and two donkeys during the early morning raid in Samburu County in northwest Kenya.

Local councilor, Lawrence Lorunyei said the raiders attacked several manyattas and drove away the animals sparking a fierce shootout between the raiders and the residents.

Tension has remained high as the residents' fear that the attacks may continue as the Samburu and Turkana communities' plan of retaliatory attacks.

Divisional police commander, Maurice Makhano said security has been beefed up in the region to quell the violence in the area.