Samburu leaders demand quick return of stolen cattle

Leaders during a peace caravan meeting at Kagir in Baringo County on May 26. Leaders drawn from Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Baringo counties were on a two-week-tour of the North Rift region to preach peace. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Samburu East leaders have demanded the unconditional return of their stolen animals by suspected raiders from Isiolo.

Samburu East MP Raphael Lentimalo, Tourism Executive Peter Leshakwet, various community-based wildlife conservancies, MCAs and village elders want the Government to ensure the animals are returned.

In a meeting with a Government delegation led by Deputy County Commissioner Winston Murungi and OCPD Jackson Mulubi and Uaso Assistant County Commissioner Kimani Maina, the leaders said the return of the animals was the only way of avoiding a retaliation.

The meeting, aimed at resolving the emerging conflict between the Samburu and Turkana was held at Archers Post on Saturday.

The Samburu East leaders demanded from their Isiolo counterparts that they should return all the animals stolen from them and pay a fine for the two people killed and three others injured.

blood fine

Mr Lentimalo said two people, one a game scout from Kalama Wildlife Conservancy, were killed two weeks ago and about 200 livestock stolen from Westgate in Archers Post.

“We are worried because this is the first time we are having an attack in Archers Post, which is known countrywide for its prime tourism attractions. We want our Turkana brothers in Ngaremara, Isiolo to return our stolen animals and pay the fine,” said the MP.

He added: “The attacks launched against us from Ngaremara were provocative and uncalled for.”

The leaders were unequivocal that they will pursue peaceful methods for their demands to be met.

So far, the Isiolo side has returned 78 stolen animals.

The livestock was returned after three peace meetings.

Fred Saueri, a member of the community wildlife conservancy accused the security committee in Samburu East of sleeping on the job by abdicating its role to wildlife conservancies under the Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT).