Three governors in the North Rift have agreed to have all livestock in the region branded in a fresh move to help tame runway banditry affecting mostly West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties.
Governors Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo) and Wesley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet) made the resolution after a joint meeting in Iten town to review progress on the war on banditry.
The county chiefs resolved to prohibit sale and movement of animals that are not in 19 wards located in the three counties, and which are extensively affected by the banditry problem.
The 19 wards include Tapach,Lelan, Batei, Lomut and Masool in West Pokot. Tirioko, Kolowa, Silale, Saimo Soy, Bartabwa, Illichamus, Muktani, Ribco and Churo are in Baringo county.
Affected wards in Elgeyo Marakwet are Kapyego, Sambirir, Arror, Embobut-Embolot and Endo, where residents have suffered immensely as a result of banditry attacks.
“We have tasked our respective executives and others technical staff from the livestock and veterinary departments to come out with plans on how the branding of livestock will be implemented,” Rotich said.
Kachapin said they would work with the national government to ensure they stop movement of all livestock that is not branded.
The governors have already put in place working committees to help ensure that the branding will be done successfully.
The working committee is chaired by Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek.
Some of the animals stolen through banditry are believed to be for commercial purposes. There are claims that some influential individuals and businessmen are bankrolling the criminal activity.
Governor Rotich said counties in the region are committed to supporting the ongoing government security operation aimed at effectively dealing with banditry.
The county chiefs said that many years of banditry have caused almost all development programmes to stall in the Kerio Valley region but with the renewed government security operation, there was hope of restoring normalcy.
A Kenya Defence Forces-led security operation has been going on in affected counties for the last two years but bandits continue to carry out attacks and killings in many areas, especially in Baringo county.
The governors say the security operation has largely achieved success in many other areas.
