National government administrators in collaboration with security officers in Baringo County have so far recovered 9,227 animals stolen by cattle rustlers in parts of Baringo North and Baringo South.
County Commissioner Henry Wafula said that the animals had been stolen from Bartabwa, Yatia, Ngaratuko, Arabal, Kapindasum and Kiserian and have been handed over to their owners.
Speaking at Kenya School of Government (KSG), Baringo Campus, on Wednesday during the launch of dissemination of the second African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Peer Review Report, Mr. Wafula commended security officers and members of the public for their continued cooperation that led to recovery of the animals.
The County Commissioner called upon those holding illegal guns in parts of Tiaty constituency to surrender them and embrace peaceful co-existence with their neighbours.
Mr. Wafula who blamed the rampant attacks in parts of Baringo North and South sub counties on possession of illegal firearms urged the holders to take advantage of the current amnesty in place to surrender them peacefully instead of waiting to be disarmed forcefully.
He noted with dismay that the money used by the government to facilitate police officers deployed to carry out disarmament operation in the affected region would have been best utilised in meaningful projects like construction of more schools, health facilities, and provision of clean and safe water for both human and livestock.
The CC asked local leaders, the clergy and members of the public to help the government in identifying criminals living in their midst in order to end the vice once and for all.
He said that offices concerned have been strengthened and that individuals found culpable will face the full force of the law stating that the government will not relent on its pursuit to ensure the remaining few elements destabilising peaceful coexistence of their neighbours are weeded out.
On service delivery the County Commissioner urged local leaders to embrace unity of purpose and avoid unnecessary differences that slow down development progress for the sake of the communities they serve.
“I am urging leaders to stop hurling insults against each other because they are the role model of the people they are serving,” he said.
State Department of Planning Principal Secretary Saitoti Torome who presided over the ceremony enumerated some of the notable achievements of the Review report in Kenya to include the promulgation of the Constitution in 2010, which saw the creation of devolved units of administration that has gone a long way in resolving issues of marginalisation and establishment of constitutional commissions and independent offices.
These efforts, the PS stated, have helped to improve good governance and delivery of public service to wananchi at the grassroots level.
In the function attended by governor Stanley Kiptis and New Partnership for Africa’s Development(NEPAD)-Kenya, national governing council (NGC) member Michael Kisilu, the principal secretary also singled out the establishment of Huduma Centres across the country as a one-stop-shop for provision of government services as one of the best in the region.
Mr Kisilu said that the Peer Review report will be launched in all the 47 counties to help in the improvement of good governance and socio-economic development in the devolved units.
By Benson Kelio/Joshua Kibet
