The government should formulate new policies to end cattle rustling, Tigania West MP David Karithi has said. He said the vice is adversely affecting the country’s economy and especially in Meru where suspected bandits said to be from Samburu, Turkana and Borana communities have caused havoc.

He urged police to boost security along the Meru-Isiolo border, adding that the government should impose stiff penalties on perpetrators and those found in possession of illegal firearms. "The bandits are not only raiders but also dangerous criminals because they possess powerful illegal weapons and the government needs to dig and unearth the source of the guns," he said.

Most affected He urged the government to deploy air surveillance to help trail raiders, who he said steal livestock for commercial purposes. "The national government should stop this song of cattle rustling and insecurity by setting aside funds to purchase and attach choppers to the most affected regions for air scrutiny," he said.

He said deploying more police officers in the area is not enough because the bad terrain hinders them from effectively pursuing the bandits especially in the northern grazing zone. The most affected areas are Tigania East, Tigania West, Igembe North and South sub counties where more than 1,000 livestock are stolen annually. The legislator said police and herders have been killed during the raids.

Last week more than 175 livestock’s were stolen at Lobolio in Tigania East when the bandits raided manyattas at night. About 160 stolen livestock were recovered after suspected cattle rustlers engaged police in a fierce shoot out at Ewaso division in Samburu East sub county. Area police boss Charles Kosgey said they got reinforcement from Lewa Down Conservancy Air Surveillance Fix Wing and Administration police.

Two weeks ago, a national elders forum stepped up measures to settle boundary disputes between Meru and Isiolo counties. Led by former head of public service Ambassador Francis Muthaura, the elders from Kalenjin, Luo, Gikuyu, Maasai, and Embu, met their counterparts from the two counties to end the row that has caused deaths and led to property destruction.

Speaking to the press in Nanyuki after the meeting, forum co-chairman Hassan ole Kamwaro said they resolved the two counties’ communities respect the legally established boundary. They also agreed that boundary issues be resolved through dialogue and referred to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the National Land Commission.

Kamwaro, who is a former Transport Licensing Board head, said they will sustain dialogue between communities that have signed a peace pact and involve officials of two counties. The elders also resolved that county commissioners from the two sides will enhance security to ensure that offenders are punished. Livestock rustling in the two counties will be addressed, they said. The forum said it will monitor the accord implementation through periodic meetings.