A section of leaders from Laikipia County have proposed a move to have the county’s boundaries manned in a bid to curb frequent cattle rustling in the region.
Led by Igwamiti ward MCA Irene Wacuka and Ol moran ward nominated MCA Benson Kamara, the leaders said that issuance of border passes to herders from the neighboring counties would be the only way to curb cattle rustling and ensure only responsible cattle herders are allowed to access and graze in the county.
They were speaking after a farmer was attacked on Monday morning following a confrontation with herders in Ol Moran location.
According to the locals, the area chief had received a call from nyumba kumi committee informing him of stolen cattle that were being driven through his jurisdiction.
The chief is said to have alerted the police and the locals who intercepted the cattle rustlers and upon an altercation with the police during which one of the suspected rustlers was arrested, one farmer was injured after his hand was deeply cut.
“We want the government to intervene because the herders and their livestock will finish our food. They are grazing on our farms and stealing our food at the same time,” Paul Muiruri, a resident, said.
The leaders at the same time appealed to the government through Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to deploy National Police Reservists (NPR) in the region as he promised in Samburu County.
“We need to give the herders some receipts to differentiate the rogue ones from the good ones. We want NPRs and the introduction of barriers in all border positions to ensure we vet the herders that come to our county. Moreover, we want Interior CS to come over here in Ol Moran so that he can help us solve this insecurity once and for all,” said Wacuka.
She accused a section of Samburu and Isiolo leaders as being behind the insecurity saying that some leaders have their cattle among the herds.
On his part nominated MCA Benson Kamara appealed to the government to deploy NPRs in the region.
“We want NPRs deployed in Laikipia as they shall be able to reinforce our understaffed police officers. Samburu was awarded 300 NPRs by CS Interior and that is what we want here as well. There is no way a particular region will be given NPRs and others left,” said Kamara.
Last week, a resident identified as John Ng’ang’a was stabbed by visiting herders using a spear when he confronted them for grazing in his farm.
Source: Kenya News Agency