Shoot-to-kill order given against cattle thieves

One of the 10 houses torched at Kipsisin village in Nandi County Thursday as tension between communities along the Kisumu-Nandi border heightened. [Photo: Denish Ochieng/Standard]

The Government has issued a shoot-to-kill order against cattle rustlers blamed for cross-border clashes that have rocked the Nyando sugar belt for the past three days.

Kisumu County Commissioner John Elungata and his Kericho counterpart Mukhtar Abdi yesterday directed the police to shoot any suspected cattle thieves.

They said cattle rustlers have not only led to bloody wars on the border of Kisumu and Kericho counties, but also impoverished families who rely on livestock for survival.

They spoke during a peace meeting at Sondu, along the Kericho-Kisumu border, where Luo and Kalenjin communities have often clashed over theft of livestock. National Cohesion and Integration Commission chairman Francis ole Koparo attended the meeting.

At least three people have been killed and 10 others injured in the clashes. Some 80 families have also been left homeless after their houses were torched.

Mr Elungata said cattle rustlers had gone as far as setting specific days when they carried out the raids. “We have established that Monday, Wednesday and Friday have become days for stealing livestock. They invade the region and steal cattle from innocent villagers,” said Elungata.

“We will now treat them the way we treat dangerous robbers because they are always armed.”

The two administrators said they will sack and arrest chiefs who fail to act on intelligence reports over impending attacks.

“We know there are chiefs and assistant chiefs who receive intelligence about the people who control these cartels but they are not passing the same information to us or the police,” said Abdi.

He noted most of the stolen animals from Kisumu end up in Tabaita and Kaplelartet in Kericho, and ordered chiefs to profile the thieves.

“Chiefs must provide the names of suspects. Anything less will mean they collude with them. There will be no need to keep such officers on government payroll,” said Abdi.

Kaparo blamed cattle rustling for the ethnic flare-ups between Kalenjins and Luos along the border.

He urged both communities not to fight and instead surrender suspected cattle rustlers to security agencies. Kaparo asked the Judiciary to boost the war against cattle rustling by denying bond to the suspects.

“We cannot sit back and watch our people lose their lives because of an animal. We must ensure those causing the mayhem are brought to book,” said Kaparo.

This came as tension remained high at Kopere and Songor along the Nandi-Kisumu border after another person was killed.

The latest victim, Phillip Ochieng Owako, 46, was reportedly hacked to death by youths who attacked his homestead on Wednesday night.

This came as the Government battled to contain clashes that were sparked off in the area by a cattle rustling incident on Monday.

Ochieng’s uncle, Robert Bonga, said his nephew was watching over his homestead at night when the attackers stormed. They chopped off his hands and slit his neck.

“I heard his cries but we were not help him because the attackers were many. His son escaped unhurt but Ochieng couldn’t run. It is unfortunate that he succumbed to the injuries,” said Mr Bonga.

Yesterday, residents of Odiowange village in Muhoroni sub-county fled their homes over fears of revenge attacks after a group of youths said to have come from the Nandi Hills attacked them.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) officials said the attackers were still torching houses and sugar cane plantations. KRCS West Kenya regional Manager Benson Simba said the number is expected to increase after a fresh attacks on Wednesday night. “More people are still running away from their homes and joining camps,” he said.

Four of the 10 people injured are admitted to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching at Referral Hospital while displaced families are camping at Africa Inland Church in Achego.

— Reports by Christine Ogutu, Harold Odhiambo, Maurine Odiwuor and Niko Tanui