National Assembly Speaker Urges Joint Efforts to Combat Cattle Rustling in Meru County

MERU, Kenya — National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has made an urgent appeal to local administrators in Meru County to collaborate with national security offices in Nairobi to combat the persistent issue of cattle rustling in the region. The call for a unified approach was made during a fundraiser for the Tigania Women Sacco in Mikinduri, Tigania Central, on Saturday.

According to Kenya News Agency, the prevalence of cattle rustling, an age-old practice, continues to plague the county, with local security administrators seemingly struggling to eradicate it effectively. “I want to call on the local administrators and all the security officers to ensure they stay in touch with the higher offices in order to ensure challenges hindering the fight against cattle rustling are addressed,” Wetangula emphasized during the event.

The Speaker expressed his disappointment over the public lamentations of locals and elected leaders due to the ongoing cattle theft, which he believes diminishes their dignity. He highlighted the efforts of Prof. Kithure Kindiki, a native of the region and the current Interior Minister, in quelling such practices in various parts of the country, and pledged to engage with Kindiki to direct more focus on Meru County.

Wetangula also urged chiefs and residents to remain vigilant, suggesting that collaborators of the rustlers often reside within the community, scouting targeted areas before launching their attacks. He stressed the importance of scrutinizing the intentions of newcomers in their areas to safeguard their community.

The issue of cattle rustling in Meru County has reached alarming levels, with Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi describing how some communities view Meru as a free-for-all area to obtain cattle for financial gains. Aburi criticized the local security personnel for their laxity and focus on meetings rather than action.

Tigania West MP Dr. John Mutunga reported recent incidents where rustlers stole significant numbers of cattle from his constituency, highlighting the mockery it represents to the people and the ineffectiveness of the security apparatus. He called for a regional operation to recover the stolen cattle, emphasizing the need for a proactive stance against the perpetrators.

Igembe South MP John Paul Mwirigi echoed the call for an operation to allow owners to reclaim their marked animals, underlining the importance of livestock to their livelihoods and the necessity of protecting their assets from theft.

The collective call to action from Meru’s representatives underscores the urgency of addressing cattle rustling, not only as a matter of local security but as a national concern requiring comprehensive efforts and cooperation across different levels of government.