Leaders seek more police posts to tackle cattle theft

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma (center) is joined by other leaders in cutting a cake to mark Kenya's Golden Jubilee celebrations at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu on December 12, 2013. Governors Jack Ranguma and Cleophas Lagat (Nandi) on December 18, 2013 headed a meeting organised to resolve conflict at the Muhoroni-Nandi border, which has called for establishment of anti-stock theft units and additional police posts in volatile areas. PHOTO |JACOB OWITI

What you need to know:

  • Cattle rustling has been rampant in the area and has led to the killing of six people in the past two months, while a police officer lost his gun
  • Governors Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) and Cleophas Lagat (Nandi) condemned the residents’ failure to report perpetrators of violence.

A meeting organised to resolve conflict at the Muhoroni-Nandi border has called for establishment of anti-stock theft units and additional police posts in volatile areas.

Cattle rustling has been rampant in the area and has led to the killing of six people in the past two months, while a police officer lost his gun.

Governors who met in Kisumu on Wednesday blamed communities living at the border for the conflict.

Governors Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) and Cleophas Lagat (Nandi) condemned the residents’ failure to report perpetrators of violence.

Mr Ranguma claimed residents had been assisting cattle rustlers to escape authorities. “We must develop and adopt new strategies of dealing with these conflicts once and for all,” he said.

Mr Lagat said the only lasting solution would be for the community to become their neighbours’ keepers. “There is no way a Nandi can steal cattle from a Luo without the knowledge of his neighbour,” he said.

The area may witness a major violence similar to the 2007/8 post-election chaos if people ignored the call, he warned.

The most volatile areas, according to residents, are Potopoto, Miwani, Kokere, Mariwa and Kapsamo.

The meeting resolved to form joint border committees to bring the communities together through negotiation and mediation.

The peace committees would participate in exchange programmes with different counties and with countries such as Rwanda and South Africa, to learn effective ways of dealing with conflicts.

Nandi county senator Mr Senator Stephen Sang and Women Representative Zipporah Kering criticised their governor saying he had failed to combat insecurity.