Igembe North MP Joseph M’Eruaki decries cattle rustling menace

Igembe North MP Joseph M'Eruaki addressing mourners during the burial of Harron KImandio, a 14-year-old boy who was killed by cattle rustlers. Mr M'Eruaki vowed to take serious measures to curb insecurity in the constituency. PHOTO | DICKSON MWITI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He was speaking Wednesday in Antubangai Village in Mutuati Division during the burial of a 14-year-old boy who was killed by cattle rustlers.
  • Mr M’Eruaki said that he was tired of attending burials of people killed by cattle rustlers in his constituency adding that serious action needed to be taken to end this menace.
  • He blamed the neighbouring Borana community from Isiolo County for perpetrating these crimes despite the fact that they had agreed to live peacefully with each other.
  • Igembe North Njuri Ncheke chairman Mr Linus Katheera said that over nine people were killed and 600 goats stolen in 2014 alone.

Igembe North Member of Parliament Mr Joseph M’Eruaki has vowed to use all means at his disposal in order to protect his people from frequent attacks by the neighbouring communities.

He was speaking Wednesday in Antubangai Village in Mutuati Division during the burial of a 14-year-old boy who was killed by cattle rustlers.

Harron Kimandio was killed on December 26, 2014 and 68 goats stolen.

Mr M’Eruaki said that he was tired of attending burials of people killed by cattle rustlers in his constituency adding that serious action needed to be taken to end this menace.

IMPOVERISHED BY CATTLE RUSTLING

He said that cattle rustling had become a thorn in the flesh in Igembe North and that the residents were being impoverished by these attacks.

He wondered why security officers were beseeching cattle rustlers to return his people’s animals every time they stole them whereas the crime was equal to robbery with violence.

“I wonder why we plead with cattle rustlers to return our animals every time they take them from our people.

“This is a serious crime just like robbery with violence since they kill the herders in order to take the animals easily. The two crimes should be treated equally,” he said.

He blamed the neighbouring Borana community from Isiolo County for perpetrating these crimes despite the fact that they had agreed to live peacefully with each other considering the fact that they depended on each other in various ways.

CLOSE GOAT MARKETS

He threatened to close down the goats market at Gachuuru in his constituency where the Borana community sells their goats to Igembe people and in return buy foodstuffs from them.

He said that there was no need to trade with people who were not friendly to them.

“I have given them two weeks to return all the goats that they have stolen from us so far and if they fail to do that, we shall close down the market and end any trade with them,” he said.

Igembe North Njuri Ncheke chairman Mr Linus Katheera said that over nine people were killed and 600 goats stolen in 2014 alone and the leaders from the Borona community were not taking any action as agreed in the Modogashe declaration.

He added that the declaration had given chiefs responsibility to return any animals that were stolen by people from their community to the affected one which he said was not being done.

He also blamed the Meru County government for not intervening in order to put the issue of insecurity to an end.