Police ordered to shoot and kill cattle thieves.
It is no longer possible for residents of the Mount Kenya region to raise livestock due to visa bans, a situation that has forced the authorities to issue a shooting order targeting cattle rustlers.
It is estimated that the county loses up to 600 million annually due to cattle rustling, with the worst affected areas being Ndia in Kirinyaga, Mbeere South in Embu and Kiharu, Murang’a South, Kigumo, Kandara, Ithanga / Kakuzi and Gatanga County Murang’a.
The situation is so bad that local authorities have described the crime as an economic sabotage, which they promise to eradicate.
Despite the increase in cattle raids over the past two years, angry locals have taken matters into their own hands, killing eight suspects and arresting 53 civilians. Police also killed two suspects and found 684 stolen animals.
The centre’s regional commissioner, Wilfred Nyagwanga, said thieves usually carry home weapons.
“I have asked our security teams to shoot and kill anyone who threatens life and property with a gun,” Nyagwanga said.
Police on Sunday recovered 121 of the 824 sheep worth 5 million shillings stolen from a New Day farm in Makuyu, Murang’a County. A group of 12 armed men stormed around 1am The farm is owned by Dr Charagu Mararo.
Refugee
By Sunday night, the guards had found 121 sheep worth Shs 840,000.
On Saturday evening, a group of four raided Moses Ngure’s house in Mariki village around midnight and stole 30 sheep worth 150,000 shillings.
Murang’a South Sub-County Police Chief Alexander Shikondi and his team, led by special forces under the command of Inspector General Cleophas Juma, followed the robbers. By 6:00 am, they had found 17 sheep alive and three had been slaughtered.
Thieves were caught slaughtering animals in a nearby forest. “They fled when they saw us. We are dealing with a planned crime network, “said Mr Shikondi.
Eight sub-counties have been identified as burglary areas, and authorities rely on community policing to crack down on crime.
“Police seized 26 motorcycles and eight vehicles found carrying stolen cattle and meat on a black market. We said the crime was an economic sabotage and I ordered my officers to deal with the thieves, ”Mr Nyagwanga told the nation.
“We have described the Embu-Makutano, Sagana-Murang’a-Kenol, Ithanga-Mbombo-Thika roads, Gatura-Thika and other roads connecting the province with the Thika highway as special police stations [which criminals use] to transport cattle. , “he said.
Security teams in eight sub-counties were tasked with paying special attention to abattoirs and livestock markets.
“For Murang’a Sud, for example, we ordered all abattoirs to have security cameras that must be operational at all times,” Mr Shikondi said.
Community policing
Slaughterhouses, butchers and markets will be under surveillance and all meat and livestock exporters are registered. They will be required to provide a certificate of approval on request.
Community policing committees will be empowered to identify and report all types of crimes to security guards, who will increase patrols.
“Most of the criminals are foreigners and it is easy to identify them. But we also know that they have partners, ”said Catherine Ringera, Kandara sub-county police commander.
Maragua County Deputy Commissioner Joshua Okello said he was convening a special team to deal with the coalition.
Police detectives
Gatanga police chief Peter Muchemi demanded better protection of police reporters.
Mr Nyagwanga called for closer co-operation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the judiciary “so that when we bring the suspects to court, the cases will be closed”.
“We will take up arms against [criminals] and we will not wait to be awakened in the middle of the night to pursue them.”
“We will use all the methods and resources we have to end crime networks,” Nyagwanga promised.
