Members of the Meru County Assembly have renewed pressure on the national government to compensate families affected by livestock banditry, saying persistent raids in grazing zones have left hundreds of households impoverished, displaced and mourning loved ones.
The calls came during debate on a motion tabled by PNU nominated MCA Karimi Kilingo seeking urgent formulation of a county livestock security management policy to address cattle theft, cross-border incursions and insecurity affecting pastoral communities in Meru.
While moving support for the motion, Athwana MCA Jim Muchui said herders in Buuri and Nyambene had suffered losses for decades, with bandit attacks continuing despite repeated security interventions.
“Most men have been killed leaving behind widows and vulnerable families. We lost 11 people and nine were from Akithi and Athwana wards, yet many years after independence our people are still exposed to raids,” said Muchui.
He said although security remains a national government function, the county must introduce measures to regulate livestock movement, arguing that raiders often rely on informers operating within grazing areas in Meru.
Muchui proposed that livestock entering Meru for grazing should only be allowed through a permit system issued by county authorities, while at least 10 per cent of animals should be fitted with electronic tracking devices to improve traceability during theft cases.
“The national government must take responsibility. We expect stolen livestock recovered and compensation given to families that have lost relatives and livelihoods,” he added.
Akithi MCA Mwenda Ithili backed the motion and accused security agencies of failing to stop repeated attacks despite promises of operations in bandit-prone areas.
He called for reshuffles of county security leadership in Samburu, Laikipia, Turkana and Isiolo, saying weak enforcement had allowed livestock theft to continue unchecked.
“The county economy is under threat. If the government compensated those who died during protests, why not compensate people killed while protecting their livelihoods in Meru?” said Ithili.
He also alleged that poor coordination between counties had enabled stolen livestock to disappear across borders, insisting that stronger inter-county surveillance was needed to track animal movement and prevent illegal grazing.
Muthara MCA Aulario Murangiri described banditry as an economic crisis that had left the lower Nyambene facing food insecurity after farmers abandoned cultivation due to fear of attacks.
“This is not only about deaths. It is economic impoverishment. Families cannot farm, children are left vulnerable and hunger is looming in lower Nyambene,” said Murangiri, adding that he was considering legal action to compel compensation for affected residents.
Motion sponsor Kilingo said Meru had operated without a livestock security policy since devolution despite cattle rearing remaining a major pillar of the county economy.
She said repeated killings in Muthara and surrounding grazing belts had reached alarming levels, with some communities now forced to search for burial space because of frequent deaths linked to raids.
Kilingo told the House the proposed policy would introduce livestock registration through branding and electronic tagging, establish a county livestock database, regulate animal movement through permits and create designated livestock routes, quarantine zones and holding grounds.
The motion also seeks establishment of a county livestock security coordination body under the agriculture department to work jointly with national security agencies and neighbouring counties in monitoring livestock movement and responding to threats.
Antuambui MCA Patrick Mburugu said more than 22,000 livestock had been stolen and over 1,000 people killed since 2022, warning that insecurity had disrupted schooling and livelihoods across pastoral zones.
“Cattle rustling has become a thorn in the flesh. If this policy is implemented fully and the national government acts firmly, normalcy will return and herders will rebuild their lives,” he said.
MCAs argued that beyond livestock theft, continued raids had also weakened local leather, meat and dairy value chains, with the county losing huge revenues daily because pastoral production remained unstable.
If adopted, the motion will require the County Government of Meru to allocate funds for implementation while engaging neighbouring counties and national agencies in a joint livestock security framework.