Report: Cattle rustling deaths to go up as drought bites

Deaths due to cattle rustling is bound to go up as drought takes its toll in the country, a report shows.

According to available statistics, more than 189 people have so far been killed this year due to such raids.

In the month of June alone, 76 people were killed due to fights for scarce pasture and water.

In a report carried out by the Government of Kenya in conjunction with World Food Programme, United States Agency for International Aid and Famine Early Warning Systems Network says insecurity is growing in Turkana, Samburu and Isiolo districts.

The Kenya Food Security report says heightened conflict incidents have caused displacement of population, loss of lives and animals in the three districts.

“In a typical event, several hundred households in marginal agricultural districts have been displaced as armed pastoralists from Garissa and Tana River take over farms in Mwingi and Kitui,” the report says.  

The report says those who have been displaced are mainly in agricultural parts of the district due to competition for pasture and water.

“Intervention efforts by local administrative structures have been largelyunsuccessful as pastoralists move further inward, suggesting that retaliatory measures could widen the conflict,” the report says.

The report says about two million pastoralists are in crisis after pastures dwindled following the drought that has hit the country.

It says about 70 per cent of livestock migrated in the months of May and June in northern Kenya to Ethiopia, Somalia, Isiolo, Kitui, Mwingi and Coastal lowlands in search of pasture.

The report further says pastoralists in Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Moyale, eastern Samburu and northern Isiolo have been worst hit where 15 per cent of animals deaths had been reported.

The report says three consecutive seasons of failed rains could be the reason of crop failure in northern parts of Mwingi and Kitui districts.

In the report, it says the likely scenario especially in the month of October is that pasture is likely to decline further due to poor rains.

“Even a likely reduction in cereal prices in coming months will do little to support pastoral terms of trade because livestock conditions are rapidly declining,” the report says.

It also says that prices of cattle had tremendously dropped due to the situation. It said a cow was going for as low as Sh4,000 while it used to go for Sh13,000 when there was pasture.

The report says the influx of refugees from Somalia is also causing disquiet and tension among local communities bordering Daadab refugee camp due to diminishing resources. The camp, the largest in the world, is home to about 400,000 people.

“With extensive degradation of the local environment as trees and shrubs are cut for use as cooking fuel, Inadequate space in the camp has worsened the situation because an estimated 70,000 refugees have spilled into the outskirts of the camps with limited access to food, water and shelter,” the report said.

It added: “Continued influx of refugees is likely to precipitate a humanitarian crisis in parts of Garissa and Mandera because available facilities and resources are not able to cope with the large numbers that are growing rapidly.”

The report, however, says if the October-December short rains falls, food security, water and pasture would improve.