Cartel ‘supplying arms’ to rustlers

By Ali Abdi

and Anthony Gitonga

A home guard was killed and four policemen injured in Isiolo as it emerged a cartel is supplying arms to cattle rustlers.

A meeting chaired by Internal Security Minister George Saitoti heard that a gang is behind cattle rustling.

The Government has since arrested guards said to be abetting the conflict, which has left more than 11 people dead.

On Wednesday, bandits stole cattle from Imenti North, a day after ambushing home guards and APs, killing one and wounding fives. The injured are admitted to Isiolo District Hospital.

Ten police reservists are in police cells while 14 others, a councillor and two chiefs, have been arrested.

On Thursday, Eastern PPO Marcus Ochola said the 14 could not account for bullets issued to them, adding they might have used their weapons to commit crimes including rustling.

"If any Government officer cannot account how he used his firearm, he is a criminal," said Mr Ochola.

About 150 GSU personnel have been deployed in Isiolo and Samburu East to arrest and disarm suspected bandits. He said eight suspected bandits have been arrested and more than ten rifles recovered since Monday.

Planned attack

Barely a week after the Isiolo killings, Mr Saitoti questioned how 200 people could have met and planned the attack without the knowledge of the Provincial Administration or the police.

He revealed investigations had established the attack was well planned and executed as the rustlers targeted 4,000 livestock.

"I do not understand how 200 people could have met and planned the attack, yet we have chiefs, their assistants and the intelligence service," he said.

During the consultative meeting for peace and security for MPs from arid and semi-arid areas, Saitoti attributed cattle rustling to drought and proliferation of small arms.

Addressing the same meeting, his PS Francis Kimemia said investigations showed cattle rustling had been commercialised.

"We have identified merchants of death who have been supplying arms in these areas and it is just a matter of time before we catch up with them," he said.

 

 

Read all about: Bandits Livestock Rustling

 

 

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