Fresh calls have been made to President William Ruto to declare cattle rustling a national disaster.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich says MPs are also working on a bill which seeks to have cattle rustling categorised as terrorism in a bid to exterminate the vice in the larger Kerio Valley region.
"I'm looking for Kaluma and Opiyo Wandayi and my MPs are also on the same mission. We want to unite and have a bill that they have suggested, they want to make cattle rustling declared and categorised as terrorism," he said.
The county boss argues that the move will ensure anti-terror police are deployed in the volatile bandit-prone region and wipe out criminals terrorising residents.
"Already it's terrorism, you kill and maim at will, you use sophisticated weapons, it has to be declared as terrorism," the governor said.
His call come four months after leaders from Baringo led by Senator William Cheptumo urged the government to declare banditry and cattle rustling a national disaster.
Speaking on October 8, 2022, during the burial of a GSU officer who was among eight officers ambushed and killed by bandits in Napeitom, Turkana East on October 1, Cheptumo said tougher measures should be put in place to tackle banditry once and for all.
"It is time President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua declared it a national disaster and provided permanent solutions to the problem," he said.
