22 cows stolen after reservists in area are disarmed

A National Police Reservists (NPR) in Baringo. His counterparts in Elgeyo Marakwet were recently disarmed. [File, Standard]

More cases of cattle rustling have been reported along the border of Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties after National Police Reservists (NPR) were disarmed two weeks.

At least 22 cows have been stolen in Kabiego location in the last three days as State delays rearmament of reservists to facilitate their fresh registration and training.

A contingent of at least 100 heavily armed GSU officers were deployed to the border last Monday.

Locals yesterday said the cows were stolen between Thursday and Friday and efforts to recover them have borne no fruit.

“Thirteen cows were stolen on Thursday and taken towards Kabushen in West Pokot County,” Wilson Yego told The Standard yesterday.

Mr Yego said the residents pursued the suspected bandits, but gave up after discovering that the livestock had been driven across the border to West Pokot County.

According to Yego, unknown number of cows owned by a resident of the troubled border were stolen on Friday and driven towards Kawarwar in West Pokot.

“Locals can’t pursue the stolen cows beyond the border to the neighbouring county because they fear attacks by armed bandits,” he added.

Kabiego location chief Edwin Yano yesterday confirmed that 22 cows were stolen in the last two raids.

Mr Yano said the cows were stolen in grazing fields inside the nearby Embobut forest.

The chief asked locals to report cases of cattle theft immediately to facilitate quick response and pursuit of rustlers to recover livestock.

“Herders are reporting thefts days after they happened making it difficult for the police to pursue. Residents who had fled the border following attacks more than a week ago put their livestock in one area, making it easy for cattle rustlers to steal them. We advise them to report incidents immediately,” Mr Yano said on telephone.

Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar said NPR personnel will soon be redeployed after vetting and training to boost security in the rustling-prone areas of the county.