Baringo MP calls for an end to cattle rustling

Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim has called on the government to curb cattle rustling in the region in order to spur cohesion and peaceful co-existence.

Kipchoim says that rampant cases of cattle theft and inter-community conflicts have made the area to lag behind in terms of development growth. She called on leaders to be in the fore-front to preach peace.

She noted that pastoralist communities have been criticised for being a headache to both regional and national security due to the constant spate of attacks witnessed amongst them.

She said that cases of banditry and ethnic conflicts, especially between the Ilchamus and Tugens living in Baringo County, are hampering development in the region.

She blamed the constant clashes on the scarcity of resources in the region, adding that cases of banditry we on the rise and therefore need to be tackled with as a matter of urgency.

Speaking press in Nyahururu, Kipchoim challenged the locals to learn to shun leaders who are hell-bent on pitting communities against each other.

At the same time, she criticized a section of provincial administration officials intimidating chiefs saying this should not be allowed if peace was to prevail.

The Baringo South MP was reacting to the suspension of Marigat location Chief following an incident in which three people were killed and two others injured and unknown number of livestock was stolen in a revenge mission between the Tugen and Ilchamus nearly two months days ago in Sadai area.

The incident also led to the arrest of Muktani Ward Member of County Assembly Lemison Parkei over incitement to members of the public.

However, the MP observed that it was wrong to implicate a section of leaders because the government was yet to arrest the perpetrators.

She called on the government to deal with the suspected cattle raiders and criminals terrorizing local residents so that peace can be achieved.