Politicians funding and fanning cattle rustling on the spot

A newly released report by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration has laid bare the deadly and growing nexus between politics, the commercialisation of banditry and a crisis that continues to devastate pastoralist communities in Kenya.

The report paints a grim picture of how political incitement and black-market livestock economics have sustained a cycle of violence, characterised by maiming, death, displacement and economic disenfranchisement of pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend on livestock.

“Let us shun all acts of political incitement and revenge,” Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said as he released the report detailing the countrywide status of efforts to combat cattle rustling.

“I urge political leaders to stop playing politics with such important national security concerns,” he added.

Covering the first quarter of 2025, the report notes a sharp decline in livestock theft, from 263 incidents in the same period last year to 167 this year.

The number of stolen livestock dropped from 8,557 to 4,935. While the data points to progress, the criminals continue to unleash terror.

“These gains are the result of the concerted efforts of our security officers, including the National Police Reservists, who have worked tirelessly in close collaboration with local communities,” Murkomen stated.

Murkomen, who was captured on camera engaging residents in Marigat, Baringo County, is seen in widely circulated footage interacting with locals, among them an elderly man representing the community.

Referring to the security meeting held at Kampi ya Samaki with officers from the National Police Service, National Government Administration Officers, and National Police Reservists, the old man said, “Thank you for coming here today… We have persevered.

We have a big problem, and we do not want it to spread. Our agenda number one is peace, number two is peace,  agenda number three is peace.”

Despite the series of consultative security meetings, the attacks continued. Bandits struck again in Chemoi, Baringo North, killing two people and seriously injuring eight others, including a National Police Reservist.

This came just a week after a similar attack on the Marigat to Tangulbei road, where a woman was killed and three others were injured.

Referencing the quarterly report, the Cabinet Secretary noted, “Unfortunately, as a result of these criminal acts, 21 persons, one police officer, eight civilians and twelve suspects, were killed in the first quarter of the year 2025 compared to 58 persons who unfortunately died in the same period in 2024.”

The report underscores that banditry remains a deeply entrenched national security threat.

The Cabinet Secretary identified three main acts that continue to fuel the criminal activity: “political interference and incitement, the commercialisation of banditry through accessible markets for stolen livestock, and the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.”

He also cited other contributing factors, including resource-based conflicts over water and pasture, land boundary disputes, and remote criminal hideouts worsened by poor infrastructure.

“The government is working hard to set aside resources for infrastructure development, including schools, and to provide our security officers with better equipment and resources to tackle these challenges,” he said.

As Kenya moves into the next quarter of 2025, Murkomen affirmed the government’s resolve to maintain momentum in the war against banditry.

But the call was clear: those funding or fanning the flames of violence under the guise of politics must stop.