Meru MPs, led by Chairman Mugambi Rindikiri of the Meru Parliamentarians Association, have expressed worry about the rise in cattle rustling and banditry in the region.
Approximately 800 herds of cattle and goats were stolen by bandits this week, prompting the MPs to call for action.
Rindikiri said onSaturday at Mikinduri, Tigania East constituency, that they are urging Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to initiate a similar operation in the area as was done in the North Rift Valley.
The CS had issued a curfew and security operation late last year but it was not actualized after leaders from Isiolo and Samburu leaders petitioned thehim not to conduct the security operation as it would affect the economy of the area.
Tigania West MP Mutunga said that bandits from nearby counties had made Meru an ‘ATM machine’ where they would steal livestock at will.
“Surely how do you steal 500 cattle from the same area and then come back and steal another 300 from the same area after only a few days it is lack of respect even petty thieves do not break into one shop twice,” Mutunga said.
John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South) said cattle rustling had made many residents count losses after their animals were stolen.
The MPs were attending a fundraiser where the Speaker of the national assembly Moses Wetangula was chief guest.
On his part, Wetang'ula said that he would engage CS Kithure Kindiki to resolve banditry in the area.
“I want to urge chiefs to smoke out those among the community who are colluding with bandits as they cannot steal the livestock alone, they even sleep amongst the community,” he said.
The Speaker said that cattle rustlers will not be tolerated by the government and they ought to be behind bars.
Wetangula noted that President William Ruto government had faced many court injunctions things will fall in place as legislators work on the second budget.
Last month, the government said it would unveil a different tactic as it escalates the war against banditry and human trafficking.
CS Kindiki said a comprehensive multi-agency eradication strategy will soon be launched to tackle livestock rustlers, highway robbers and human traffickers in the Rift Valley and Eastern regions.
"The criminals have taken advantage of rough terrain, poor infrastructure and social vulnerabilities to stage attacks against residents of some parts of Northern Rift Valley and Upper Eastern Regions, a culture that the Government is determined to suppress this year," he said.
Kindiki noted the criminals have been exploiting the rough terrain, poor infrastructure and social vulnerabilities to stage attacks in certain areas of the Northern Rift Valley and Upper Eastern regions.
The government, he said, is determined to curb the criminal activities and will soon release a list of troubled zones in Isiolo, Samburu and Meru.
