The Kenya Livestock Marketing Council (KLMC) has urged the government to deploy enough security personnel to counties experiencing cattle rusting and inter-community clashes in a bid to restore calm and prevent more loss of lives and property.
The council further wants the pastoral communities to find a common ground for peace with their neighbors to end the conflicts that have for a long time undermined development in their regions.
KLMC Chairperson Dubat Amey noted that although the national government has promised to tackle the issue, there is need for the communities involved to stop revenge attacks so that a permanent solution may be found.
“Cattle rusting is a major economic threat to this country and our neighbors. It negatively impacts on livestock trade, and contributes to poor and stagnating livelihoods of those affected,” said Dubat who addressed the press in Garissa town.
“We need an innovative approach to eradicate or minimize cattle rustling in pastoral regions especially in West Pokot, Marsabit, Isiolo, Garissa, Samburu and Baringo counties,” he added.
Dubat called for a livestock identification and traceability system that will help security agencies to easily find the stolen cattle and flush out bandits from their hideouts.
“With our knowledge and expertise in livestock, we should collaborate with the ministry for interior to come up with good tracking technology to be put in animals for traceability which will discourage the bandits from carrying on with the crime.”
Source: Nam News Network