Marsabit: Rustlers in Marsabit, Isiolo, and Samburu counties have been given a five-day ultimatum to return livestock stolen in recent raids or face forceful recovery of the animals. The ultimatum was issued during a meeting of elders, peace committees, security officers, and local administrators at Archers Post, chaired by County Commissioners Stanley Kamande (Marsabit), Mwachaunga Chaunga (Isiolo), and Paul Keter of Samburu.
According to Kenya News Agency, Isiolo elders reported that 65 camels and over 1,000 goats and sheep had been stolen in the past month. They mentioned that they had identified locations where some of the animals were being held and shared the names of suspected rustlers with authorities. Officials noted that herders from the three counties had been grazing together on the Isiolo side due to available pasture, but some individuals had exploited the situation to steal livestock.
Authorities indicated they were aware of the whereabouts of some stolen animals and had information on the suspected perpetrators. They urged herders to provide accurate numbers of stolen animals to facilitate recovery efforts, as exaggerated figures posed challenges in retrieving the livestock.
The five-day period aims to allow those holding the animals to return them peacefully before security agencies commence a forceful recovery operation. Keter encouraged residents to remain patient and cooperate with security agencies, emphasizing that community support was crucial to restoring peace and preventing further conflicts.
Elders and peace committees were also called upon to assist in identifying stolen livestock and facilitating their peaceful return, as efforts to maintain peace along the grazing corridors continue.
