Laikipia County Assembly members have asked the Government to give them licences to carry firearms.
They cited increased cases of banditry, cattle rustling and other related crimes.
Contributing to a debate tabled in the County Assembly by the Security and Home Affairs committee Chairman Dan Ndegwa observed that Governors, their deputies, Senators and MPs have been given armed security.
Mr Ndegwa, who is the Ol’Moran Representative was, however, quick to note allocating each member an armed security would be an expensive affair, hence their appeal for licences to own and carry firearms.
Bodyguards
“Mr Speaker, we are not asking for bodyguards because that would be impossible, but we are asking the Government to give us licences to carry firearms,” said Ndegwa.
He noted his neighbour was last week attacked by armed rustlers who also robbed him of his livestock. He told the assembly the bandits fired severally in the air to scare off family members and neighbours before fleeing with the animals.
“Mr Speaker, if I had a rifle, I would have faced the criminals and saved the livestock from being stolen. It is paramount for us to carry guns,” he said. Sosion and Githiga ward representatives, Jacob Edung and Peter Thomi respectively, supported the debate and called on the State to reinstate Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) in the rustling-prone county.
Criminals
Mr Edung said Laikipia had fallen victim to unprecedented attacks by criminals who take advantage of the fact that there are no KPR to protect communities.
“There are KPR in neighbouring Samburu, Baringo and Isiolo counties who have managed to contain cattle rustling. We want them e reinstated here because you have seen what has been happening of late,” he said. Several people have been killed and scores injured by cattle rustlers.
At the same time, a fierce row over control of Laikipia East Constituency Development Fund equipment and machinery is in the offing, with area MP accusing the Governor’s office of commandeering the excavator to the neighbouring Laikipia West Constituency.
