Two people shot dead in Samburu protest over cattle rustling

BY JAMES MUNYEKI

SAMBURU, KENYA: A peaceful demonstration over rising cases of cattle rustling in Mararal, Samburu county turned tragic after two people were killed in a day long melee between the police and residents.

This was after over 2000 people stormed the local police station demanding the release of 25 heads of cattle that had been recovered by the police.

The deceased include Laikipia University-Samburu Campus student leader Thompson Lekishorimoi and a fourteen-year-old boy who were killed as security officers engaged the demonstrators in running battles.

The student was shot by a stray bullet and died on the spot while the other boy was attacked and hacked to death by irate protestors for unkown reasons.

Trouble started early Wednesday when the morans from the Samburu community stormed Maralal police station in attempt to drive away 25 heads of cattle that were detained on allegations that they had been stolen from the neighbouring Malkis village.

According to Peter Lelepuk, police officers followed the lorry that was intercepted in Maralal Town transporting the alleged stolen cows from Suyan near Marti areas in Samburu North district.

He said a chain of insensible attacks and cattle raids in Samburu North despite heavy government armed forces presence forced the Police to detain the cows at the police Station for further investigations.

The witness said it was then that a group of Samburu people from Maralal and university students from Laikipia’s Maralal Campus staged a peaceful protest as security officer made frantic efforts to repel them.

“The morans had gathered in a nearby area before they proceeded to the police only to meet the officers armed.Efforts by the local officer commanding station Patrick Manyasi to calm them failed as they insisted that the cattle should be released,” he noted.

This he said made police lodge tear gas canisters as the protestors turned wild and an exchange of fire ensued.

Mark Leleruk, the principal of the institution confirmed that the deceased was a student leader and was shot in the melee several meters from the police station .

The morans he said barred the police from collecting the body until the officers who shot him were apprehended.

Samburu County Women Representative Maison Leshoomo demanded that a police overhaul be conducted in the area to end numerous cases of cattle rustling.

“We have lost over ten deaths in the last two weeks and the government has done exactly nothing.This should be a wake up call that enough is enough,” she told The Standard on telephone.

She called for all stakeholders to ensure that the struggle to seek the elusive peace must continue in order to bring harmony and encourage peaceful coexistence.

By the time of going to press, Interior and Cordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, a section of Samburu leaders among them Leshoomo, MPs Alois Lentoimaga, Lati Lelelit, Raphael Letimalo and Senator Naisula Lesuuda were set to tour the area.