Laikipia cattle rustling victims buried amid calls to improve security

A sombre mood engulfed a village in Laikipia North as two people who were killed by bandits in Isiolo were buried.

Stephen Ngirisho, 50 and 32-year-old David Masiar were among four people who died in an attack on May 28 at West Gate as they tracked livestock that had been stolen from Lokusero village in Mukogodo East ward.

Among those who attended the funerals at Ngare Ndare and Chumvi villages were National Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman Francis ole Kaparo, governorship aspirant Nderitu Muriithi and his running mate John Mwaniki, as well as Laikipia North parliamentary aspirant Sarah Lekorere.

Condemned the attack

The leaders condemned the attacks during which several people were injured.

The eight cows that had been stolen were surrendered to area OCPD Bernard Ibaya at Archers Post police station in Samburu East sub-county.

Laikipia Peace Caravan officials Mark Leleruk and Godfrey Putunoi said elders had persuaded the morans to return the animals.

An AK-47 rifle suspected to have been used in the attack and a bullet were also surrendered.

Leleruk said the livestock was stolen by young men who were preparing to get circumcised.

"This is one of the traditions we are discouraging. Why should we lose lives just for someone go through a rite of passage?" said Leleruk.

Rite of passage

He said the elders were playing a key role in efforts to enhance peace.

The Peace Caravan was launched late last year by professionals from Laikipia, Isiolo, and Samburu counties in an effort to restore calm in the region. Laikipia has been hit by a spate of bandit attacks in the recent past.

Early this year, 24 morans from the Samburu and Maasai communities were trained on the peace initiative that aims to end cattle rustling.