Tempers rise in Meru Assembly as MCAs push for livestock security policy amid banditry losses

Anger flared in the Meru County Assembly as members debated a motion seeking urgent policy measures to address livestock insecurity, with legislators recounting deaths, cattle theft and economic losses blamed on persistent bandit attacks in pastoral parts of the county.

The motion, tabled by PNU nominated MCA Karimi Kilingo, seeks to compel the county executive to formulate a comprehensive livestock security management policy in collaboration with national security agencies and neighbouring counties.

While moving the motion, Kilingo said Meru had operated without a livestock security policy since devolution despite repeated attacks in grazing regions, arguing that communities dependent on livestock were bearing the heaviest burden.

“This is not a matter for Nyambene alone but for the whole county because livestock contributes heavily to our economy. Women have been widowed, children killed and in some areas burial has become routine because of livestock banditry,” she told the House.

Kilingo, who said she comes from most affected area of Muthara, linked insecurity in lower Meru to broader historical land and development questions, citing the gazettement of the Nyambene conservancy and the LAPSSET corridor initiated during the presidency of Mwai Kibaki.

She questioned how armed civilians continued to raid villages despite firearms laws limiting gun ownership to security officers.

The MCA said livestock theft had worsened poverty through loss of meat, leather and dairy income, adding that insecurity was costing pastoral communities an estimated Sh400 million daily.

Under the proposed framework, the county would introduce livestock registration through branding and electronic tagging, establish a digital livestock database, regulate animal movement through permits, and designate livestock routes, quarantine zones and holding grounds to improve traceability.

Jim Muchui, the MCA for Athwana, backed the motion, saying banditry had remained a generational problem in grazing areas despite repeated security interventions.

“I come from a grazing region and I know many neighbours who have lost their lives. We lost 11 people, nine of them from Akithi and Athwana, yet the banditry continues to worsen,” he said.

Muchui argued that local informers were aiding cattle rustlers and proposed that anyone bringing livestock into Meru for grazing should first obtain clearance from county authorities. He also called for livestock tracking electronic chips to be introduced through county funding.

Mwenda Ithili of Akithi accused security agencies of failing residents and demanded compensation for both stolen animals and families of those killed.

He further called for reshuffling county commissioners in neighbouring counties, including Samburu County, Laikipia County, Turkana County and Isiolo County, saying weak enforcement had emboldened raiders.

“There are national identity cards left behind by bandits during raids, yet no serious recovery is happening. People are asking where the stolen animals disappear,” Ithili said.

Muthara Ward MCA Aulario Murangiri described the motion as urgent, saying two young people aged between 20 and 35 had recently been killed by raiders and are yet buried.

“This is an economic impoverishment and a looming hunger crisis because many residents could not plant crops due to insecurity,” he said, adding that he intended to pursue legal action to force the national government to compensate victims.

Patrick Mburugu of Antuambui said cattle rustling had become a major threat to livelihoods, claiming that more than 22,000 livestock had been stolen and over 1,000 people killed since 2022.

He said closer coordination between county and national governments would help restore learning, farming and pastoral livelihoods in affected areas.

The motion also proposes the creation of a county livestock management and security committee under the agriculture department to coordinate livestock registration, enforce compliance and serve as a link between Meru, neighbouring counties and national security agencies.

If adopted, the county executive will be required to allocate funds for implementation, including digital surveillance systems, early warning mechanisms and capacity building for departments handling livestock security.