Senate Deputy Speaker and Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi has vowed to boycott Senate sessions until action is taken against banditry and cattle rustling in Meru’s Northern Grazing Zone.
In a statement on March 20, Murungi said that he has been raising security concerns in Meru with the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Murkomen Kipchumba, for the past three years during Senate sessions.
“From today henceforth, I’ll not be attending Senate Sessions until the banditry/cattle rustling issues are properly addressed by the security forces,” Murungi said.
Murungi said he plans to camp at the office of the Chairperson of the Meru County Security Committee to ensure they have a response to the raids.
Further, he intends to visit affected families to show solidarity and monitor the situation.
Kathuri Murungi Withdraws from Senate Sessions
Senator Kathuri Murungi also raised concerns about the effectiveness of local security teams and called on President William Ruto, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, to deploy a strong team from the Kenya Defence Forces and the Kenya Police Service to restore order in the area.
In a statement on March 21, the National Police Service (NPS) announced it has launched a large-scale, multi-agency security operation to tackle rising banditry and cattle rustling in parts of Meru, Isiolo, Samburu, and Laikipia counties.
According to NPS, recent attacks in Meru’s Buuri East, Tigania East and West, and Igembe North, Central, and Mutuati have led to stolen livestock, loss of lives, and injuries.
The operation aims to recover stolen cattle, seize illegal firearms and ammunition, arrest criminals and their financiers, and restore normalcy in the affected areas.
“In the recent past, cases of banditry and cattle rustling have regrettably caused suffering in parts of Meru: Buuri East, Tigania East and West, and Igembe North, Central, and Mutuati. Cattle have been stolen, a number of lives have been lost, and injuries have been reported. This is totally unacceptable and must be eradicated,” read the statement.
Also Read: DCI Arrest Main Suspect Behind North Rift Banditry
Targeted locations include Mukogondo Forest in Laikipia; Lantana and Sereolipi in Samburu East; Kipsing and Ngaremara in Isiolo; and surrounding areas. The operation involves a large deployment of personnel supported by robust air assets.
Residents in the targeted regions have been urged to cooperate with security forces, share intelligence, and report any information that could assist the operation.
The National Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating criminality while ensuring public safety and security.
Also Read: Kenyan Cop Who Served as Only Woman in Banditry-Hit Region Promoted
Meru’s Northern Grazing Zone Declared a Security Operation Area
In 2023, the then Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki declared Meru’s Northern grazing zone a special operation area.
The declaration came after the former Antubetwe Member of County Assembly (MCA) George Kaliunga was killed by suspected bandits at Kinanduba while following up on stolen goats.
Kindiki further ordered the establishment of an Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) at Lololo to deal with the rampant cases of rustling at the border between Isiolo and Meru Counties.
On the issue of the boundary disputes between Meru and Tharaka Nithi Counties, he directed the County Commissioners of the two counties to hold an urgent meeting to develop a program to address the disputes.
He also promised to upscale the number of National Police Reservists in the Northern grazing zone from the current 60 to 200.
