Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said county Commissioners will now jointly lead efforts in tracking stolen livestock for recovery in banditry-prone areas.
Kindiki on Friday said the County Commissioners must be at the frontline of the livestock recovery mission.
"When livestock is stolen, the county Commissioner will collaborate with our security officers in the recovery operation. County Commissioners must be at the frontline of the recovery mission," the CS said.
When stolen livestock cross county borders, Kindiki said the County Commissioners from the two counties must be engaged in tracking the livestock for recovery.
Kindiki said he has instructed the Rift Valley regional commander to ensure the County Commissioners do so.
He said County Commissioners must be engaged in the recovery process "because Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs have not enough authority to go after the bandits with the few networks they have".
"Therefore, County Commissioner Samburu, County Commissioner Baringo and all the County Commissioners in all the six counties, when it comes to tracking stolen livestock, you must work in consultation and in collaboration with the operation commanders. Take the lead in recovering the livestock," Kindiki said.
He said the County Commissioners have a lot of networks and a lot of information and will be able to assist police officers, KDF and National Police Reservists to recover the livestock.
CS @KindikiKithure on why County Commissioners will jointly lead the tracking and recovery of stolen livestock. pic.twitter.com/pZn8gnOx8W
— Ministry of Interior | Kenya (@InteriorKE) May 19, 2023
