House finds cattle rustling among multiple conflict causes in region

Cattle rustling is no longer the sole cause of conflicts in Samburu and Isiolo, investigations have revealed.

A parliamentary committee which visited the areas says other overriding factors such as political intrigues, highway banditry, land acquisition, marginalisation and business rivalry have been major contributors to the conflicts.

The committee on Administration and National Security resolved to visit Samburu East and Isiolo North districts in September last year to establish why these areas have been engaged in endless inter-clan warfare and banditry.

The visit was necessitated by frequent reports of killings and attacks resulting from rampant cattle rustling and banditry in the areas.

The conflicts were occasioned by the competition for scarce resources such as water and grazing land as well as political intrigues.

The 11-member committee chaired by Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi noted that political differences were to blame for the protracted insecurity in the region.

It expressed concern that the District peace committees had become ineffective over the years and were serving vested interests and were seeking financial gains.

The prospects of elevating Isiolo town to a Resort City by 2030 had compounded the Samburu-Isiolo conflicts such that the indigenous people are being pushed away from the original habitations to pave way for the new land prospectus, the committee says in its report.

Debating the report findings and its recommendations in Parliament, MPs urged the Government to move fast and address the problem.

MPs accused the Government of treating the problem casually and not giving it the attention it deserves.

They warned that continued treatment of the problem in this way would continue to sabotage development in the areas.

Moving a motion on the debate, Mr Kapondi said resources allocated to the region were paltry and could not achieve any meaningful changes.

“What we require is serious intervention because the current level of funding is so low and cannot make any impact,” he said.
He urged the Government investigate politicians behind cattle rustling.

Assistant minister for Wildlife Mr Josephat Nanok accused Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojode of defending security officers and engaging in public relations instead of dealing with the problem.

Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro said the insecurity problem in the region should be dealt with at once, stating that recent disarmament exercise had achieved nothing.

Mosop MP David Koech said the report recommendations should be implemented.

Others who supported the report and its recommendations included Dr Nuh Abdi (Bura, ODM-K), Mr Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda,ODM), Ms Amina Abdalla (Nominated, Kanu), Mr Raphael Letimalo (Samburu East, ODM), Ms Maison Leshomo (Nominated, PNU).

Stakeholders from the Kenya Tourism Federation who met the committee expressed concern over threats to tourism in Samburu in Isiolo, expressing fears that bandits had invaded the national parks and were attacking tourists frequently.

They warned that if not checked, the trend could lead to closure of the hotel business in the area.

There have been allegations that Kenya Police Reservists who man conservancies had turned into cattle rustlers.

There have fears also that the attacks to tourists could be motivated. “The reason behind the attacks could be to drive away tourists, close down the parks/camps and eventually move in herders to the pastures and watering points within the parks,” the committee observed.

The committee further claimed in the report that some communities were being favoured by the Government, citing the Boranas who were issued with guns to protect themselves from perceived aggressors.