The government will speed up the redeployment of Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) in parts of Marsabit Central Sub-County in a bid to stem a seemingly persistent cattle rustling menace.
Marsabit County Commissioner Paul Rotich ordered for an all-out operation to recover livestock stolen from herders in the Badassa area of Jardesa location by an unknown number of armed raiders.
Speaking outside his office after holding a meeting in his office with the Marsabit County Assembly security committee on security, Mr Rotich disclosed that vetting of the KPR for the locations of Jardesa, Songa and Karare was being finalized.
He said that Songa area had turned out to be a notorious corridor for cattle rustlers adding that enlisting of KPR to boost support from local morans was expected to help in stamping out the rustling menace.
The County Commissioner warned that the government was not going to compromise on issues of security and directed security personnel to recover the stolen animals that include 42 heads of cattle, 8 goats and a donkey.
He also ordered the pursuit and arrest of the suspected raiders and recovery of the illegal firearms they reportedly used to terrorize villagers during the raid.
“We are going to deal with perpetrators of crime without mercy,” he told the elders from Badasa who had also come to seek an audience with him.
Mr Rotich assured that measures aimed at stemming practice of livestock theft were being taken and urged for patience saying that all the stolen animals would be recovered and returned to the owners.
Among measures was to strengthen the capacity of Leyai police post where a vehicle has already been allocated to enhance patrols and ensure that matters were attended to as they are reported.
The County Commissioner directed the county police commander Robinson Mboloi who was present to make sure that reported cases of crime and suspects were dealt with without delay in order to render justice and enhance confidence from members of the public.
The county assembly committee on security chairman, Tura Ruru, said the leadership was committed to initiatives that would make peaceful coexistence between communities achievable.
Mr Ruru called for calm and patience among the aggrieved residents and asked the security agencies to speed up the recovery operations.
The chairman also asked the authorities to fast-track the restoration of the reservists who he said offered an important complementary role to the police in dealing with crime.
By Sebastian Miriti
