Samburu County Commissioner (CC) Henry Wafula has issued a two day ultimatum to bandits to return 300 goats they stole from a business man in Maralal town one week ago or face the full force of the law.
Speaking during a peace meeting with Samburu elders, chiefs and religious leaders, the CC noted that a group of Samburu morans have been terrorising residents of Maralal town by raiding and stealing livestock from homesteads, money from M-pesa shops, kiosks and mama mboga vibandas.
He urged the elders to help bring the known criminals to book by reporting their location through area chiefs.
“As elders, I believe you know who steals livestock in the community and who owns an illegal firearm, so talk to these young men before it’s too late,” the CC warned.
The tough talking Commissioner went ahead and read the names of five suspected cattle rustlers in public including their village of residence and their mobile phone numbers before tasking chiefs and elders to work together with the police to arrest them.
At the same time, Wafula called on parents in Samburu County to urge their sons to surrender illegal firearms to the nearest police station adding that they cannot continue to make a living from crime.
On his part, Bishop Simon lemarimbe said that the church would continue preaching the gospel of peace to the youth across the country.
He also challenged the Samburu council of elders to take their role in the society with the seriousness it deserves by castigating the killings of innocent people by young morans.
By Robert Githu
