Herders from Turkana and Samburu communities living in Baragoi, Samburu County, have been warned against engaging in cattle rustling or revenge attacks on their neighbours
Samburu County Commissioner (CC), Abdrisack Jaldesa, said the government is alert to execute its responsibility of protecting people’s lives and their property, assuring them that victims of cattle rustling will get justice.
The CC noted that the dusk to dawn curfew imposed in Baragoi a month ago, is bearing fruits since no single case of insecurity has been reported in the past two weeks.
“For about ten days no insecurity incident has been reported from Samburu North and I want to issue a warning to any community or person that will be the first to attack and steal livestock from the others to be ready to face the consequences,” he warned.
The County Commissioner was speaking in Baragoi town Samburu North Constituency when a five-member, Parliamentary Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, visited the area to identify causes of insecurity in Samburu North and the neighbourhood with a view of finding a lasting solution.
The Committee’s Vice Chairperson who is also Mwingi Central Member of Parliament (MP), Gideon Muliungi, said cattle rustling and community boundaries conflicts are the main causes of insecurity in the area.
The Committee held a joint meeting with the County’s security team, herders and leaders from both Turkana and Samburu communities to find solutions.
“We have agreed how we will move forward and solve this problem, we have agreed that security team will enhance operation and suspected criminals be arrested. Residents from both sides have assured us that they will co-exist peacefully,” he said.
Samburu Women Representative, Maison Leshoomo, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities said that residents of Samburu North from both communities have illustrated that they desire to unite and co-exist peacefully.
She said that the two communities’ views collected by the Committee will be spiraled to a higher level for action that will yield fruits hence permanent solution to the protracted insecurity.
By Robert Githu
