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Livestock Minister Mohammed Kuti/FILE

Kenya

Disarmament due in upper Eastern Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 17 – Leaders from Samburu, Borana, Turkana, Somali and Meru communities in Isiolo have come up with a set of resolutions aimed at ending cattle rustling and conflicts that have long plagued the region.

As part of the decree, a joint voluntary disarmament programme will be undertaken beginning mid next month and chiefs in whose areas stolen livestock are found will be held accountable.

Livestock Minister Mohamed Kuti said on Thursday that should they fail to investigate any such occurrence and recover stolen animals, they will be stripped of their duties.

“What we are looking at is to disarm all pastoral communities in the country and the government to provide security to all communities,” he said.

“The home guards to be vetted afresh and be involved in tracking stolen livestock. And the chiefs in whose areas stolen livestock are found should also be held accountable or even be sacked,” he stated.

He further pointed out that the government will provide security in the area in addition to facilitating leaders to enable them undertake peace building and conflict resolution activities.

“The government should investigate the genesis of the current conflict in Isiolo and legal action to be taken against inciters and rumourmongers. The issue of power sharing also came up very strongly because of the 2012 elections. So politics is also seen among the underlying causes of conflict in the country,” he explained.

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia on the other hand stated that more police posts will be opened up in the area to address the issue of insecurity.

“You cannot go abusing the rights of people as you conduct the disarmament process. You must make sure that their rights are always upheld,” he said.

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