Armed rustlers injure two in raid

By ROBERT WANYONYI

Nyamira County: Two people sustained injuries in Nyamira County’s Borabu/Sotik border during a cattle rustling incident.

The 10 rustlers are said to have raided Raitigo village at around 2am yesterday and attempted to drive away cattle from two homesteads when alarm was raised.

James Mochama, a resident, said the two men who attempted to resist the raiders sustained serious arrow injuries.

“They first forced their way into Aron Okindo’s home but did not manage to steal. Unfortunately, he was shot with an arrow on the head. Other family members locked themselves in the house and raised alarm. The thieves got scared and walked away,” Mochama said.

Last December, Okindo’s three cows were stolen, just a month after a he lost one cow.

The rustlers, who were armed heavily with arrows and other crude weapons, then raided a neighbouring homestead some 200 metres away but faced resistance.

Night patrols

During the raid, Joshua Obae was shot thrice in the abdomen but the thieves did not steal his livestock. They instead fled with some chicken as villagers raised alarm.

Okindo and Obae were rushed to Borabu District Hospital but were referred to Kisii Level Five Hospital to have the arrows dislodged.

“We are investigating the incident and hope to make arrests,” area OCPD Dishon Chadaka said.

Security agents in the area have made numerous efforts to end cattle thefts, which are often a recipe for tension between the Kisii and Kipsigis, but the incidents have persisted.

Mr Chadaka, however, said compared to two years ago, the cases have declined significantly. He said night patrols along the expansive border have been intensified.

In June last year, the Government put in place mechanisms to curb cattle rustling in Borabu/Sotik border such as mapping of routes used by the criminals and patrols.