Security team issues ultimatum to rustlers

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Rustlers in Marsabit, Isiolo and Samburu counties have been given a five days ultimatum to return livestock stolen in recent raids or face forceful recovery of the animals.

The ultimatum was issued during a meeting of elders, peace committees, security officers and local administrators at Archers Post chaired by County Commissioners Stanley Kamande (Marsabit), Mwachaunga Chaunga (Isiolo) and Paul Keter of Samburu.

Isiolo elders said 65 camels and more than 1,000 goats and sheep had been stolen in the past month. They said they had identified where some of the animals were being held and shared the names of suspected rustlers with authorities.

Officials said herders from the three counties had been grazing together on the Isiolo side because of available pasture, but some individuals had used the situation to steal livestock.

They said they knew the whereabouts of some stolen animals and had information on the suspected perpetrators.

They urged the herders to be giving the exact number of stolen animals instead of exaggerating the figures which gave them a hard time in recovery of the livestock.

The five-day window is meant to allow those holding the animals to return them peacefully before security agencies launch a forceful recovery operation.

Keter urged residents to remain patient and cooperate with security agencies, saying community support was key to restoring peace and preventing further conflicts.

Elders and peace committees were also urged to help identify stolen livestock and facilitate their peaceful return as efforts to maintain peace along the grazing corridors continue.

By David Nduro

Reporting originally appeared via Kenya News Agency. Read the full source for additional context.