- The leaders lamented that the Saku sub-county has witnessed a sporadic rise in cases of cattle rustling.
- Speaking during the 59th Jamhuri day celebration at Marsabit stadium, the leaders led by Governor Mohamud Ali said it is puzzling that there is persistent insecurity manifested in the forms of cattle rustling, gun shooting and highway robbery.
Marsabit county leaders have blamed security agencies for a lack of timely and efficient response to attacks, tracking and recovery of stolen animals.
The leaders lamented that the Saku sub-county has witnessed a sporadic rise in cases of cattle rustling.
Speaking during the 59th Jamhuri day celebration at Marsabit stadium, the leaders led by Governor Mohamud Ali said it is puzzling that there is persistent insecurity manifested in the forms of cattle rustling, gun shooting and highway robbery.
He asked security agencies to be proactive to end the menace.
He regretted the rampant cattle rustling and asked security agencies to deal decisively with the criminals.
He urged residents to shun ethnic differences and embrace unity in diversity, integration and cohesion.
He noted that unity and prosperity are the bedrock of progress and development.
"The campaigns and the politics are not meant to create lasting enmity," he said
"Our communities that have been in conflicts for years have opened a new chapter of peace, love and harmony."
The county boss said he will continue to work towards the unity and peace of the county and the togetherness of all the people.
He particularly urged leaders to cooperate with his administration so as to speed up development and save residents from the current drought situation.
He lauded the truce between the two warring communities and their resolve to bid goodbye to all forms of hatred and conflicts and embrace harmonious coexistence.
Governor Mohamud appealed for more support as 65 per cent of the county's population was affected by severe droughts.
He said the deteriorating food insecurity was a result of the failed rainy season that has affected crop production and livestock.
"The drought situation is so dire that we have already lost more than 70 per cent of our livestock and nearly 300,000 people in Marsabit are in urgent need of relief food," said Governor Mohamud
He said his administration was doing all it could but could not sort the problem alone hence the need for urgent help from the national government and well-wishers.
"As a county government we have been providing relief support but unfortunately demands are overwhelming and we have been forced to suspend all development projects and pre-allocate resources towards humanitarian support," he added
The Governor requested stakeholders and partners to redouble their efforts in the provision of relief support to needy families.
He said, livelihood shocks facing pastoralists, environmental degradation and devastating climate change are among the challenges that require a lot of work and innovative solutions.
The county boss said there is a need to ponder how to leverage innovation and technology at each stage of the livestock value chain and support the livestock economy in order to build back better from drought.
" I have instructed the county department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to commission and complete a comprehensive study by June next year on how best to support innovative improvement or transformation of livestock economy in Marsabit," he said
Deputy Governor Solomon Gubo Riwe appealed to the residents not to cover up criminals in their community but rather expose them in order to complement and sustain the government's efforts.
"The security agencies alone cannot do the task of protecting the citizens without the support of the people. Communities need to collaborate and expose criminals," he said
He called for the return of the reservists, saying they played a critical role in maintaining security in the region and added that insecurity had increased since they were disarmed.
He said the reservists were the only force capable of combing through the rough terrain and helping in combating crime and providing security.
He observed that the government seized the guns from reservists leaving the people vulnerable.
The deputy county boss faulted security agencies for failure to prevent continued cattle rustling by armed militias in grazing areas and for recovery of any stolen animals.
He called on development partners to step in and help people affected by drought, describing the current situation of drought as worrying and calling for concerted efforts in addressing the situation.
County commissioner Paul Rotich said the activity of those taking the law into their hands through various criminal activities was promoting violence but the government had initiated steps to checkmate them.
He said security agencies had been mandated to bring criminals to book and prevent them from threatening the peace.
He declared a renewed war on drug barons, said the drugs have killed several people and that it was time to eradicate them and issued a warning to drug dealers that they will be dealt with.
Marsabit activist Nuria Golo has declared war against female genital mutilation and early marriages which has affected the lives of school-going girls and vowed to mobilize leaders in fighting FGM and called for more collaboration between national and county governments in fighting FGM and early marriages.