Nyamira MCA threatens to build Trump-inspired wall to end cattle rustling

 

• The Esese ward MCA threatened to build a wall to stop cattle rustlers from Bomet and Narok Counties
• According to the MCA, despite holding several barazas, they could not come up with a solution

As if to prove how far-reaching the implications of “the Trump effect” are, an MCA from Nyamira County has threatened to build a wall to stop cattle rustlers from accessing his area of jurisdiction to steal cows.

Esese ward Member of County Assembly, Joseph Ondari has promised to make good his threat, claiming that is the only way to protect locals from hostile cattle thieves from neighbouring Bomet and Narok Counties who have been sneaking in at night and making away with animals with impunity for decades.

Esese ward is located in Borabu constituency, Nyamira County where Education cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’I comes from. In this constituency, Member of Parliament Ben Momanyi and other learned and prominent leaders also reside.

The ward covers 97 square kilometres which Borders Transmara in Narok and Bomet counties where two communities have been fighting over cattle rustling since time immemorial.

“My people have cried a lot, for many years even before devolution as there is no leader who has addressed this challenge which is escalating from time to time,” he said.

He noted that the communities have had a number of barazas to find a long term solution for the menace, unfortunately all has been in vain.

He said it unfortunate that cattle are stolen only from one side of the two communities, seeing as the bandits are always armed and always do it at night.

Mr. Ondari said he has shared his frustrations with the security officers; county commissioner, the deputy county commissioner and the police and also had a number of barazas with leaders from both sides. Unfortunately, no solutions seems to be coming through and hence the thoughts for a perimeter wall, like the one the US plans to build on their Mexico border to keep criminal elements at bay.

“I have gone as far as sharing this with the acting interior cabinet secretary. We also held several barazas with many other stakeholders but no solution has since come through,” he said.

He claimed that on one of the Fridays after having a baraza, which the CS attended, some cows were still stolen the very night.

“If they can still even after the CS has issued a warning to them, I think those people are very brave. Only the great wall of Esese can keep them away,” said Ondari.

The MCA is now giving the government the last chance to sort out the matter by January 2018. Failure to which, he claims he will source for funds far and wide and start building the Donald Trump-inspired wall.