A man was shot and killed during a robbery mission targeting cows in a
village in Ntimaru, Migori County.
Police said the incident happened in Nyabiora
village on August 27 and that seven cows were stolen in the 1 pm drama.
Witnesses and police said a gang of about 16,
armed with firearms, arrows and bows, raided the village and stole the cows
before abducting Thomas Machera, 32, whose body was later discovered in
neighbouring Transmara South area, Narok County, with a bullet wound in the
chest.
The victim also had an arrow lodged in the left
leg and another one in the back of his head.
Police visited the scene amid tension and
announced that an investigation had been launched into the murder and the theft
of the animals.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending an
autopsy and the probe.
Cases of cattle rustling have been fluctuating
in the area amid efforts to address the menace. This has left some herders dead
and others wounded.
Police said they had deployed more personnel
to the area to address the issue.
Just like in other places, the cattle rustling
menace has affected development in the area.
This has prompted the government to deploy
various measures to address the menace at large in parts of North Rift.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen
said the long-term vision is to empower the communities to actively take part
in the war against animal rustling and undertake legitimate nation-building
activities.
He said there are plans to distribute
subsidized agricultural inputs and extension services to area residents in a
bid to revive farming activities as a source of livelihood.
Murkomen ordered fresh vetting for all
National Police Reservists (NPRs) as part of efforts to bolster operations.
“We are coming to dismantle not only the
criminals themselves but also to bring down the entire chain that has been the
cattle and livestock rustling industry,” he said.
He also announced a new policy shift that
institutionalizes the command structure of the NPR officers, stating they will
henceforth be under the direct command of the Officer Commanding Police Station
(OCS) as part of efforts to enhance their operations.
