NYAHURURU, Kenya, Apr 12 – More than 200 heads of cattle have been stolen by heavily armed cattle rustlers in Laikipia West district.
The raiders armed with two AK-47 rifles stormed several houses at Sosian location in Rumuruti division, where they terrorised residents before making away with the livestock.
Laikipia West AP Commandant Francis Nganga said on Sunday that two people were injured in the midnight attack.
He said a contingent of Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), Administration police, and police officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) were tracking down the animals and assured the residents that they would be recovered.
The raiders invaded Kilimon, PND Farm and Tinga Mara areas, and Mr Nganga has revealed that the security personnel have laid an ambush at the Laikipia West and Baringo district borders to ensure the suspects do not cross into Baringo.
“There have been attacks in the past by raiders from the Pokot community, but recently they have become more frequent,” he told Capital News.
Hundreds of residents from the pastoral area have fled their homes following constant raids by suspected cattle rustlers from East Pokot District over the past six months, a situation that the residents have blamed on laxity by some officers in the provincial administration.
Most of the residents have claimed that the attacks have been going on with impunity, while locals who only depend on livestock for income were now starving.
The residents have appealed to the government to intervene, especially by providing relief food and beefing up security in the area.
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