Security meeting held to flush out cattle rustlers

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya during an interview at his office in Nakuru on July 25, 2019. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya will today hold a meeting with  security committees in six counties affected by cattle rustling to plan on forceful security operation.

The meeting in Eldoret is expected to finalise plans on the operation to be rolled out in West Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties.

“I have scheduled a meeting with county security committees to finalise plans and a date on forceful operation in notorious six cattle rustling-prone counties,” said Mr Natembeya.

Speaking to The Standard yesterday, Natembeya said the operation will focus on restoring law and order, strengthening security, recovery of illegal firearms and arresting suspected cattle rustlers.

Officers deployed will also recover stolen livestock and ensure displaced families go back to their homes.

Several families are reported to have fled the troubled Chesosgon area which is at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

The coordinator said the operation will be synchronised across the counties to prevent suspected bandits from fleeing.

Numerous cases of attacks and cattle rustling have been reported in the recent past.

Last month, a group of armed bandits shot a local at Kapedo in Baringo while he was crossing a river.

In another incident reported last month, a group of armed bandits raided Kamwenje and drove away 30 head of cattle.

The shooting happened at time Nyahururu Deputy County Commander Patrick Muli was holding a security meeting.

Elsewhere, residents of Kamwenje, Matwiku and Milimani villages in Laikipia West have been living in fear due to numerous attacks by bandits believed to be from Baringo.

In another raid, a group of armed cattle rustlers stole 35 heads of cattle in Laikipia North that would later be recovered in Samburu East, according to a police report.