Govt drags its feet as cattle rustling continues unabated in Laikipia
Tensed residents of Tiamamut village in Laikipia North Sub County meet with top security officials after a banditry attack that left four people dead recently.
Fresh cross-border cattle raids are threatening to tear apart a memorandum of understanding on peace and development by the leadership of pastoralist communities from Laikipia, Samburu and Isiolo counties.
The agreement seeks to end hostilities among the three counties and enhance development in the region by promoting non-violent interactions and collaborations.
The region, in which the warring communities live, is drought-prone, which fuels tension due to fights over shared resources, especially water and pasture.
Also, the area’s harsh climate and scarce population make it difficult for police as well as the authorities to deal with the proliferation of automatic firearms in recent decades, resulting in a general sense of insecurity.
Mr Lobara Ole Mosieny narrates how cattle rustlers raided his homestead at Tiamamut village in Laikipia North and drove away his 83-cattle herd. The armed bandits forcefully drove his entire cattle herd while firing in the air to scare his family.
Laikipia County has suffered a series of attacks blamed on “bandits” and cattle rustlers where ranches and farms have been invaded with cattle illegally grazing on private land.
Some of these invasions have been violent; tourist lodges have been looted and, in some cases, razed to the ground.
The insecurity ordeal recently prompted Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya to convene separate crisis meetings with top security chiefs, leaders and locals at Kimanjo in Laikipia North and Matuiku in Laikipia West.
Since February this year, tens of people have been killed and livestock stolen at Kimanjo area by suspected cattle thieves believed to be from Samburu East while using the Isiolo route.
But during his tour to the area, Mr Natembeya said the government will kick-start an operation to flush out illegal herders and recover illegal guns.
"If you feel you are more superior because you own a gun, the government has more powerful ammunition to deal with you. We will deploy a contingent of police armed with ammunition that you have never seen before," Mr Natembeya warned.
He appealed to politicians in Laikipia and Isiolo to cease inciting their electorate to violence but instead focus on fostering peace among the communities.
"We will come, yes we will come and properly streamline the border between Isiolo and Laikipia so that everyone understands the demarcation of the boundary. But a county boundary is not meant to create enmity between communities," he said.
"We want our leaders and elders to be meeting frequently at the grassroots level to cultivate peace between the Maasai and Samburu communities. We want peaceful co-existence and we will ensure that this issue of using guns as grazing tools comes to an end," Mr Natembeya added.
Mr Douglas Mosieny points at his father's empty cowshed where 83-cattle herd were stolen by heavily armed bandits at Tiamamut village in Laikipia North.
Among the key issues that emerged from the two meetings chaired by Mr Natembeya were politically instigated conflicts, poor security-locals cooperation, lack of streamlined strategies by security agencies, cultural practices that encouraged banditry, poor road connectivity, illiteracy and unemployment.
Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi promised to inject more budgetary allocations into upgrading key roads that are used by security agents while on their security operations.
"Economic success of this region is predicated on a peaceful ecosystem and, most importantly, respect to others' property. It cannot be negotiated in the guise of cultural activities like cattle rustling that promote banditry," Mr Muriithi said.
During this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations, County Commissioner Daniel Nyameti announced that the government was ready to start an operation to flush out illegal herders who have been terrorising residents.
"We have received enough equipment and an adequate contingent of police officers who will not only assist us in flushing out illegal herders but also cattle thieves," Mr Nyameti said.
"This issue of sympathising with cattle thieves and illegal herders must come to an end. After this operation, those cases will be things of the past. I am appealing to all local leaders to stop politicising matters of security and help the government in instilling peace," he added.
But, speaking to the Nation, Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere said the government's plan of launching a security operation in the area has been delayed over the years at the expense of residents who have fallen victim of banditry attacks.
Ms Korere said cases of insecurity will continue to thrive in the area if the security operation is not launched soon.
"It is only a proclamation that has been issued by the government. There is a difference between giving a pronouncement and implementing the same. When I hear the government announcing that there will be a security operation in my constituency, I think it is long overdue," she said.
"If that operation is not implemented, we will continue being under the mercy of the bandits. We have eagerly been waiting for this operation," Ms Korere added.
Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere on July 27, 2020, after visiting a homestead at Tiamamut village. She appealed to the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to speedily put in place stringent measure to end cases of rustling.
The lawmaker said that insecurity in the area worsened after local National Police Reservists (NPRs) were disarmed by the government.
She appealed to the government to empower NPRs to combat cattle thieves and illegal grazers.
Recently, tension gripped residents of Tura village in Laikipia North following the murder of a herder by suspected bandits believed to be from the neighbouring Isiolo county.
Mr Susin Monto was grazing his livestock when he was attacked and shot dead by an unknown assailant who fled without stealing his herd.
Irate residents and local leaders condemned the murder of the 36-year-old father of four and shifted blame to the government for failing to empower the NPRs to combat rampant cases of cattle rustling in the area.
Mr Erick ole Kasana -- a resident -- said they have, over the years, been terrorised by bandits at their grazing fields and homes, leading to the displacement of over 300 people in the area.
A contingent of police officers arrive at Tiamamut village in Laikipia North Sub County following a banditry attack that left four people dead recently.
"We want to tell the government that we are law-abiding citizens and, hence, need to be protected from frequent banditry attacks. A majority of us are now homeless yet we have a government which is supposed to protect our lives and property. We are deeply sad because one of us was gunned down by attackers from the Samburu community living in Isiolo County," Mr Kasana said.
