Uhuru buys MP 20 goats as he puts cattle rustlers on notice

President Kenyatta bought 20 goats at Sh160,000 for Tiaty MP Asman Kamama as symbol of peace to bring an end to perennial conflicts among pastoralists in Baringo County.

Mr Kenyatta made the offer during the re-opening of Kimalel Goat Auction, where more than Sh9.8 million was raised at the weekend.

More than 1,000 goats from all the 30 wards of the county were sold, with Mr Kenyatta taking home more than 300.

“I’m buying you these goats as a sign of an end to cattle rustling between the Pokot and other communities in Baringo County.

I should not hear of it again,” he said in the company of his deputy William Ruto.

Cases of cattle rustling escalate during the festive season every year and residents of volatile areas of Marigat and Baringo North districts raised the red flag over the same last week.

Mr Kenyatta challenged Baringo County leaders led by Governor Benjamin Cheboi and Senator Gideon Moi to preach peaceful co-existence among the local communities.

And in a show of gratitude to former President Daniel arap Moi who was also present during the function dubbed Baringo Cultural Fair and Goat Auction, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto gave him 100 goats as Christmas present.

In one of his bids, Mr Kenyatta bought 200 goats valued at Sh1.6 million while Mr Ruto bought 150 goats for Sh1.2 million.

Mr Kenyatta called on pastoralist communities in Baringo to abandon retrogressive cultural practices like cattle rustling and focus on educating their children.

Mr Moi, who initiated the Kimalel Goat Auction in 1986, called on county governments to identify and tap resources in their areas to boost the people’s livelihoods.