Meru residents are living in fear after armed herders invaded their farms with camels.
The residents of KK Nkengechia and Kandebene said they no longer sleep and their children can’t walk freely to school due to fear of attacks by bandits.
They want the government to add more police reservists to match the heavily armed herders.
Residents claim the herders promise to be peaceful but end up killing those who refuse to allow them into their farms.
Athwana MCA Jim Muchui on Sunday said they are wondering why former Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi’s policy to bar all camels from the county has never been implemented.
“I intend to present a motion in the Meru assembly on a policy to bar all camels from interfering with residents.
"Lives are worth more than camels. We are not ready to bury people again. We can’t afford to continue losing lives in the guise of search for pasture," he said.
Muchui said when residents were not dependent on police officers and protected themselves, there was peace.
“We shall seek the county commissioner’s indulgence to bar camels and curb looming insecurity. If the county commissioner won’t heed to residents cry, I will ask the president to intervene.
"We are not camel herders and whoever has theirs from Meru, let them feed them at their own farms,” he said.
Mwenda M’Inoti said the wounds of seven neighbours killed in one night in February this year, are still fresh.
“I was shot ten times years back. I am living by God’s grace. I traced my stolen goats to Isiolo town headed to an unknown destination.
"I pleaded with the government to help me recover them, but the efforts never bore fruits. We ask for additional KPR officers,” he said.
Martha Kaumi said she is shocked that once their animals are stolen no one traces them.
She also questioned why the government does not disarm camel herders.
“We are living at the mercies of armed camel herders who have invaded our farms. You can’t compare two KPR officers with more than eight armed bandits.
"We are suffering and we ask the MP to intervene. Who owns these camels that makes our lives unbearable?” M’muturia Kinoti said.
The residents appeal to the government to flush out the camels.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
