MPs call for arms mop-up to end cattle rustling

By ROBERT KIPLAGAT

Baringo,Kenya:MPs from Baringo County have called on the national government to carry out disarmament across the North Rift region to end perennial cattle rustling.

The MPs, who were speaking during peace prayers, blamed illegal firearms for rampant cattle rustling.

The six legislators, Sammy Mwaita (Baringo Central), William Cheptumo (Baringo North), Hellen Sambili (Mogotio), Grace Kipchoim (Baringo South), Asman Kamama (Tiati) and Baringo women representative Grace Kiptui asked the Government to act speedily.

Pastors from Baringo organised the prayers at Kabarnet High School on Sunday, following rampant cattle theft that has left a trail of deaths and property loss. Schools have been closed and families displaced.

MPs condemned the aggression by bandits suspected to be from East Pokot. “The Government must do massive disarmament across North Rift to end insecurity and bring development in pastoralist areas as it is its responsibility to protect its citizens,” said Mwaita. The MPs, especially those from Baringo North and South, dismissed the voluntary gun-surrender recently launched by the Government, terming it as ineffective.

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“Voluntary disarmament is not enough as not all will surrender them. The solution is forceful disarmament which must be done with immediate effect to ensure that peace prevails,” said Kipchoim. She said for almost a year now, seven schools in Marigat are yet to re-open and over 1,500 families abandoned their homes following raiders’ attacks.

Prof Sambili, however, urged the County Governor Benjamin Cheboi to organise sporting activities to unite youths across the region.

Mr Cheptumo accused leaders from Pokot, among them Tiati MP Kamama, who is also chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Administration and National Security, of laxity in dealing with the insecurity.

leaders’ laxity

“People have been killed, houses burnt, schools still closed, over 3,000 livestock stolen by rustlers from Pokot community and the leaders from these areas have never held meetings with their people to end this menace,” a furious Cheptumo said. He said insecurity has been a problem for over 40 years, adding that this was the generation to wipe it out.

Mr Kamama defended leaders from Pokot, saying they do not support cattle rustling. “All leaders, professionals and businessmen from Pokot are 100 per cent against rustlers and we allowed the Inspector General when he toured the county to deal with the criminals,” he said.