Two Killed In Samburu Cattle Theft

Area Chief John Lesoloiya said that the more than 200 bandits also made away with over 2,000 livestock after ambushing herders.

Lesoloiya says an anti-stock theft officer, who was among the police officers who responded to the raid, was seriously injured and is admitted at the Samburu County Referral hospital in Maralal town.

The chief added that 13 families lost their cattle to the rustlers who drove them towards Logetei.

The raid came even as police in the area pursued bandits who stole cattle from Suyan and Bendera Villages in Samburu North recently.

Two weeks ago, armed bandits shot dead two people and injured two more when they ambushed Suyan village in Samburu.

The incident that occurred at 10PM saw the bandits flee with over two hundred and fifty livestock. The bandits further injured six cows and three goats in the process.

KAPUTIR ATTACK

The residents now want the government to step in and provide ample security in the areas and recover the stolen livestock.

Two weeks ago, two people were shot dead by more than 50 heavily armed bandits in Kaputir village, Turkana South.

The bandits attacked the area at around 11pm and made away with more than 5,000 animals.

Locals have urged the government to beef up security along the Pokot –Turkana border due to what they term as rampant attacks. 

The government had in February announced that it would embark on voluntary registration of civilian-owned firearms.

Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said the move is aimed at taming banditry and cattle rustling activities among the pastoralists communities.

FIREARMS REGISTRATION

Nkaissery ordered all civilians who own guns to register with the security officers in their areas lest their firearms be confiscated.

He said that the government will not allow civilians who are not registered to continue holding firearms.

In January, the government, in conjunction with pastoralist communities, said it would launch a disarmament exercise in counties within Northern Kenya to recover illegal firearms.

Leaders from seven pastoralist communities had committed to work with the government to tame incidents of cattle rustling and insecurity in the semi- arid region.

Leaders at the meeting called on the government to assure residents of security once they willingly surrender the firearms.

According to the agreement, boundaries between warring communities will be reviewed with the aim of ending perennial clashes due to resources.

By Maureen Murimi.