Tigania residents decry increased cases of cattle rustling

Residents of Tigania East on Monday barricaded the Meru-Mau road for the better part of the day over rising cases of cattle theft from the neighbouring communities.

The residents battled with police as all activities, including businesses and transport, grounded to a halt at Muthara on the Meru-Maua road.

This comes just days after armed cattle rustlers attacked villagers and killed one man before escaping with more than 200 cows and goats.

The residents were dissatisfied with area security personnel who they claim are bribed by the cattle rustlers so as not to follow them and recapture the stolen animals.

Geoffrey Ichafa, a Tigania East resident, said 60 kids belonging to their goats were packed in a vehicle which they could not identify.

Ichafa asked the government to intervene by deploying new security personnel to the area to help curb the vice.

Susan Kangai, another resident, further accused the rustlers of raping women during their raids.

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A local clergyman, reverend Koome, called on the region’s elected leaders to set clear boundaries between the county and neighbouring lands to avoid such incidents.

The situation was later quelled after police officers rushed to the scene and dispersed the rioting youths.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Tigania East OCPD Charles Koskei said the attack took place as area administrators were holding a security meeting at Ntangilia Village.

The meeting attended by pastoralists from Meru, Borana and Turkana communities followed yet another attack on Kambogo Village where 400 goats were stolen on Friday.

Mr Stanley Karithi, a member of community policing in Maburwa said he saw the armed raiders who were in a vehicle.

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Charles Kamwibua a Resident of Tigania who is also a herder has said the raiders went away with his 26 cattle and 40 goats in the raid.

“We are surprised that the police who responded to the distress call did not track the stolen animals,” Mr Kamwibua said.

A sub-county security committee is set to hold a meeting to ensure peace returns and security is enhanced in the troubled area.

Meanwhile, residents of Gakarati village of Kigumo constituency in Murang’a County have been spending sleepless nights guarding their livestock for fear of cattle rustling.

A series of cattle theft cases have spread fear amongst the locals who practice livestock keeping as the main economic activity and source of livelihood.

Residents further claimed that they have recovered three cows and four goats that had been stolen in a span of less than a month. The recovered animals are said to have been found at various slaughterhouses.

In one of the most recent incidents, six goats were found slaughtered and packed in sacks after a motorbike which was ferrying them was intercepted by locals.

Area Member of County Assembly, Erick Kamande, who witnessed the incident termed it unfortunate while commending the residents for acting with speed and reporting the matter to the security officers.