Herders and leaders in Meru County have renewed calls for a security operation to recover thousands of cattle stolen by bandits in the last two years.
According to Nyambene Livestock Farmers Cooperative Union more than 6,000 cattle have been stolen in the last two years.
A report by herders indicates that about 45 people including police reservists have been killed and 16 left with injuries in the same period.
In the most recent attack, three people were killed and two injured in a raid on December 22.
The herders have fingered the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja for promising a security operation that never was.
Kanja, who met herders and political leaders in Meru in September last year, promised to deal decisively with banditry.
Nyambene Livestock Farmers Cooperative Union chairman Stephen Thinkei lamented that despite giving sufficient information to security agencies, no action was being taken.
“The last two years have been devastating for herders in Meru North. Despite the heavy presence of police and reservists, we are still losing our animals. I lost 93 cattle and even after tracking and tracing them to Samburu, we could not recover them.”
“We went with a contingent of 50 police officers but they were warned against engaging the bandits in a gun fight,” Thinkei said.
He said a security operation similar to the one conducted in Rift Valley was needed to smoke out heavily armed gangs terrorizing Meru herders.
“It is shocking that in Kenya today, you can identify your stolen property but be barred from taking it back. Are the bandits above the law?” he posed.
Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu said he would convene a meeting of herders and local leaders in January to deliberate on the runaway banditry.
“It appears the government has failed to protect the people of Meru from banditry. We must reevaluate our relationship with this government. If the government cared, they could have conducted an operation to recover our animals from the bandits,” Taitumu said.
He said the government should also compensate families of those killed and injured by cattle rustlers in the last two years.
“When we ask when the security operation will be done, we are told plans are in advanced stages. Until when will our people continue to die?” the MP posed.
Former Igembe North MP Maore Maoka called on President William Ruto to intervene and authorise a security operation in the region to recover stolen livestock.
“Since the promises made by the interior minister and the inspector general of police have failed to materialize, the president must intervene. Meru legislators must confront the president to order the operation,” Maoka said.
Edward Maranya, a herder, said they were living in fear due to increasing ambushes by bandits in the expansive Meru grazing area.
“Many livestock keepers have been rendered poor by the cattle rustlers. The security teams have not been proactive because whenever we seek help, they take too long to respond. Once the raiders cross Ewaso Ngiro River, the cattle disappear,” Mr Maranya said.
Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma said security has been enhanced leading to recovery of 98 per cent of animals stolen in the recent past.
