Mutitu police hunt down cattle armed rustlers
The Mutitu DC James Kamau who condemned the rustling incident in which 16 heads of cattle were driven away. Photo by Musembi Nzengu
A contingent of security officers was yesterday combing the Sosoma Ranch area in pursuit of cattle rustlers who stole 16 heads of cattle at Twambui village in Mutitu district. Yesterday Mutomo OCPD Thomas Ngeiwa, who is in charge of Endau location where the incident took place, denied claims by area civic leader Stephen Kithuku that the rustlers shot and injured a man in the hand.
Ngeiwa said security officers have received reinforcement from Ukasi in Mwingi East district to pursue the rustlers. He said when the rustlers, who are believed to be from the neighbouring Tana River county, struck they opened fire at a man looking after cattle but missed him. He said the man was not shot but was injured as he fled from the attackers.
Ngeiwa said the animals the man was looking after scattered and in the ensuing confusion the rustlers drove away 16 heads of cattle. Mutitu DC James Kamau condemned the attack and said locals should not welcome herders from neighbouring counties without clearance from the provincial administration. “We have always cautioned our people against welcoming and receiving herders from neigbouring areas unless they produce clearance letters from the provincial administration. Some of these people are criminals and only hide behind the banner of herders,” Kamau said.
Kithuku and the Kitui County Council chairman Nzyoni Mang’uye blamed the government for failing to protect the people of Endau. They called on the government to drive away encroaching pastoralists from Kitui. “We want those herders out of Kitui. The government must recover the stolen animals and at the same time push the herders out of Kitui,” Mang’uye said.