Civil servants accused of taking part in rustling

Baringo residents have accused some government officials of taking part in cattle rustling.

According to the residents, before a raid takes place, “strange” vehicles are usually spotted in the area with their bonnets open, a sign that they have broken down.
But they disappear immediately the raids take place.

Stolen animals are rarely recovered after raids.

“It seems these are no longer common cases of banditry but some people are enriching themselves with proceeds from stolen animals while our people, whose main source of livelihood is livestock, wallow in abject poverty,” said Mr Amos Olempaka, who comes from the volatile Kiserian area in Baringo South Sub-county.

ROADBLOCK GRAFT

Just two weeks ago, a senior provincial administration officer in Nakuru ordered the release of a vehicle which was carrying livestock suspected to have been stolen after it was impounded by junior officers on the Marigat-Nakuru road.

The fresh wave of livestock thefts in Baringo, Samburu, West Pokot, Turkana and Laikipia counties has sparked fears that the tradition is now becoming commercialised.

Cases of stolen livestock being impounded on major roads in the area, especially the Marigat-Nakuru road, have increased in the recent past despite such lorries passing through numerous roadblocks.

The residents from the volatile areas had threatened to block all roads, especially Loruk-Marigat road so as to stop transportation of animals.

Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo said that investigations have already been launched to establish if some senior government officials and prominent individuals were behind the sale of stolen livestock.

“Those found culpable irrespective of their status or position in society will face the full force of the law. We will not tolerate any form of lawlessness,” Mr Okwanyo told the Nation.

More than 50 businessmen from the six sub-counties who met Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and Mr Okwanyo recently distanced themselves from claims that they were abetting cattle rustling.

The businessmen, led by Mr Musa Longaletum, said their businesses were in danger of closing due to the “malicious” rumours.

The meeting came barely a week after two lorries ferrying livestock were stopped at Loruk in Baringo North.

CLOSE MARKETS

Residents threatened to attack the occupants, saying they were carrying stolen livestock.

“The insecurity menace in the county has created animosity between the warring communities and us businessmen. We are genuine businessmen and we cannot support such heinous acts,” said Mr Longaletum.

Mr Cheboi recently threatened to close all livestock markets in the cattle rustling prone areas if banditry attacks continue.
Some of the livestock markets are Nginy’ang, Amaya, Tangulbei and Barwessa.

The businessmen noted that they had liaised with the county government and the security team to visit the volatile areas in the county so as to urge the warring communities to co-exist peacefully,” said Mr Longaletum.

Mr Cheboi recently threatened to close all livestock markets in the cattle rustling prone areas if banditry attacks continue. Some of the livestock markets are Nginy’ang, Amaya, Tangulbei and Barwessa.

The businessmen said that the insecurity menace had hampered development in the resource rich county and promised to support any efforts geared towards stamping out the vice which has killed more than 183 people in the county and seen over 27 schools with a population of more than 31,000, closed since 2005.

Ends