- Kinango and Samburu have been singled out as subcounties with rampant cases of livestock theft.
- According to the residents, the theft is conducted during the night with many losing hundreds of livestock.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
Security teams in Kwale county have warned against ongoing cases of livestock theft in the region.
Kinango and Samburu have been singled out as subcounties with rampant cases of livestock theft.
According to the residents, the theft is conducted during the night with many losing hundreds of livestock.
The previous police records indicate that Silaloni, Kadzamoyo, Makamini, Mwangaza are among the affected villages.
Samburu Deputy County Commissioner Josephine Mwenge said the cases have been on the rise for the past months but the security have managed to quell the problem.
Mwenge said the most commonly stolen livestock are goats.
"We had a challenge of livestock theft but the area chiefs reported that the cases have dwindled," she said.
It is believed the people behind the stealing of animals are from outside the county.
A week ago, some resident were arrested for buying stolen cattle in Samburu.
Majority of residents in the area are from the Maasai, Akamba, Somali, Durumas communities.
For some time, some pastoral communities in Samburu and Kinango have been fighting over grazing lands with livestock paying the price of the dispute.
Last year, two camels from one pastoral community were killed in Silaloni and meat was allegedly sold in the streets of Samburu.
In September 2021, the former county police commander Ambro Steve Oloo faulted some rogue police officers and chiefs for the increasing pastoral community disputes and insecurity in Kinango and Samburu.
"It does not add up, insecurity along our highways is thriving, cattle are killed, people fight and officers have no clue at all," he said.
Oloo then accused some local administrators and security officers of covering up for the culprits.
Speaking during the launch of Kizingo dam in Makamini, Mwenge advised residents to work together with the area security team to enhance security.
She said the livestock theft cases are increasing because most residents don't report them.
"If we cooperate and work with police officers we will permanently deal with these petty insecurity issues," she said.
Mwenge told residents not to hide criminals and hand them over to police officers for the law to take course.
She also urged residents to report any incompetent chiefs to help improve services and security at the grassroots level.
Samburu Subcounty Police Commander Fredrick Ombaka said police officers are keeping day and night vigil to protect residents.
He said they are determined to deal with any kind of insecurity asking resident to team up with them to effectively subdue criminal activities.
Ombaka warned of stern legal action against the perpetrators once found.
At the same time, Mwenge encouraged parents to take their children to school.
Currently, some children are skipping classes because of the drought. They are helping parents to search for food and water.
Mwenge said education is the only way to effectively fight poverty and improve lives.