Senate Bill proposes five-year jail term, Sh2 million fine for livestock thieves
If enacted, the Bill is expected to provide pastoralist communities with stronger legal safeguards and institutional support, aiming to reduce livestock theft and enhance security in counties where cattle rustling has long been a problem.
Pastoralist communities could soon benefit from stronger protections as lawmakers debate a Bill aimed at tackling livestock theft more decisively.
The Prevention of Livestock and Produce Theft Bill, 2023, which was first introduced in the Senate, proposes strict penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years or fines not exceeding Sh2 million for individuals found guilty of stealing livestock.
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The legislation also seeks to establish clear systems for identifying and tracking animals, including livestock branding and mandatory removal permits when animals are moved from one location to another.
These measures are intended to make it easier for authorities to recover stolen livestock and hold perpetrators accountable.
Beyond punitive measures, the Bill requires both national and county governments to implement strategies that safeguard livestock-keeping communities while promoting their economic well-being.
This includes support for education and alternative income-generating opportunities for households that depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
The discussion on the Bill comes shortly after a violent cattle rustling attempt in Kokuro, Kibish, Turkana County, which left two suspected bandits dead.
Police reported that around 50 armed Dassanech bandits attacked Welegech village with the intention of stealing livestock, but security forces successfully repelled the raid.
“The Bill imposes an obligation on the National and county governments to put in place measures that not only protect livestock keeping communities from livestock theft but also enhance the socioeconomic welfare of these communities through education and the promotion of alternative means of livelihoods,” the Bill states.
The Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, which reviewed the Bill, backed its passage but recommended adjusting the fines to better reflect the gravity of different offences.
The Committee also urged a regional approach, emphasising stronger border controls and collaboration with neighbouring countries, including Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, noting that cross-border cattle theft remains a major challenge.
“The Bill established a comprehensive legal framework for preventing, combating and eradicating livestock and produce theft with a provision on livestock identification, regulation of movement and trade, prevention of theft, and recovery of illegally acquired livestock,” the report adds.
If enacted, the Bill is expected to provide pastoralist communities with stronger legal safeguards and institutional support, aiming to reduce livestock theft and enhance security in counties where cattle rustling has long been a problem.
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