Leaders differ over Cheboi’s rustling remarks

Baringo, Kenya: Two leaders in Baringo yesterday clashed over Governor Benjamin Cheboi’s statement that politicians from the area were involved in cattle rustling.

Mr Ambient Cheboi recently claimed that some politicians from the rustling communities in the county could be financing rustling activities through purchase of illegal arms.

Deputy Speaker Douglas Kiplimo accused East Pokot leaders of doing little to end the cattle rustling menace while Silale Ward Representative Nelson Lotela dismissed the governor’s allegations.

Bandit attacks

“Over the years the leaders have kept quiet as bandits from their area terrorised neighbouring communities, stealing livestock, burning houses and killing people. I support the governor that the leaders could be knowing something that the rest of us don’t,” said Kiplimo.

Lotela, who comes from East Pokot, however, defended leaders from his community, saying they have been at the forefront in the fight against cattle rustling in the region.

“The governor’s assertion that leaders from Pokot finance purchase of firearms for bandits is wrong. As leaders, we have been holding peace meetings with our people in a bid to end the menace,” said Lotela.

He accused area County Commissioner Benard Leparmarai of applying double-standards in the recovery of livestock, saying that recently his community lost more than 1,000 livestock but the Government did nothing to recover them.

“Any time rustlers suspected to be from Pokot attack other communities, the Government acts swiftly, but the contrary is usually the case when the Pokot lose their livestock,” he said.