Residents at Isiolo-Meru border decry insecurity as family of reservists killed by bandits demand justice

Residents living within the Isiolo-Meru border have decried cattle rustling incidents in Maili Saba and neighbouring areas, saying they were threatening livelihoods.

Two people, including a National Police Reservist, have been killed and more than 100 animals stolen in the last one month.

The residents are concerned with the police's failure to arrest criminals behind the attacks and recover the stolen animals.

Musa Maitai, a resident, wondered how the criminals who supposedly come from a neighbouring county were unleashing terror with utmost precision, alleging collusion with locals.

"How would a criminal know that a certain person has many goats without being told by a resident?" he posed.

The rising insecurity saw residents recently barricade the Meru-Isiolo highway at Maili Saba, halting transport along the busy road for two days.

Another resident James Kaburia asked authorities to weed out criminals in the area for lasting peace to be achieved. "We are also working on reviving Nyumba Kumi to ensure every resident knows their neighbour so that we collectively tackle any emerging challenges," he said.

The residents lamented that rustling was discouraging many from livestock keeping which they practice alongside crop farming. "How would dozens of animals be driven past a town (Maili Saba) with government presence and security installations unnoticed?" Another resident wondered.

Kathare police post where the late police reservist Benson Mbaabu was attached until his demise. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)

Meanwhile, the family of Benson Mbaabu, the police reservist killed by suspected rustlers at Rwathene village 10 days ago has asked police to expedite investigations and arrest the culprits.

Benson, who was attached at the Kathare police post, was shot dead while getting into his compound from an operation. Before the attack, his home had been raided and his two cows stolen.

Samuel Kaimenyi, the deceased father, demanded justice for his son and called for thorough investigations into the killing.

The criminals, he insisted, were only interested in the firearm that his late son had, and that is why they did not raid his home which had tens of goats and cattle.

"We want the motive established because if the criminals were after livestock, they would have raided a home adjacent to that of my son or mine but they did not," he said during the burial ceremony on Tuesday.

Kaimenyi asked the government to support the widow in educating their four children as a way of appreciating his son's dedication to the promotion of security.

Benson was enlisted as a police reservist two months ago, graduated on July 26 and was killed a fortnight later.

Buuri East Sub-County Police Commander Mark Odour told Eastleigh Voice that investigations into the two incidents were underway.

He said security teams from both counties were pursuing criminals behind the first attack where a resident was killed while also pursuing the stolen animals.

"We are yet to arrest any suspect in connection to the two incidents but are pursuing crucial leads," he said, adding that four goats and a cow had been recovered following the attack at a police reservist's home.

The criminals, reports indicate, also raided another home far from the village while leaving.