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"content": "stealing of livestock by any person from any country or community where the theft is accompanied by dangerous weapons or violence. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, cattle rustling has been with us for a long time. Historically, the whole of the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa has experienced cattle rustling for along time. This has caused poverty to many families, many communities and many regions because many people have lost their lives, a lot of properties have been lost and families have suffered quite a lot because of this problem. Traditionally, cattle rustling is mainly considered among pastoral communities as a cultural practice and was sanctioned and controlled by elders. Currently, the phenomenon of cattle rustling is causing a great deal of concern owing to the emerging new trends and dynamics leading to commercialization and internationalizion within communities of those who practice cattle rustling. It is one of the painful situations in some of the communities where this practice is on. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when we were selected by the House, we went to several places and made several observations. We went to Trans-Nzoia, Turkana, Garissa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and many many districts in this country where we have this problem and we saw the sufferings of these people. The Government has really let these people down to the extent that even after 40 years, Kenyans are still killing themselves. Even today as I speak, in Samburu and other areas, people were killed yesterday. Today, they are still being killed and they continue dying just because of cattle rustling. During those trips, we also saw where the Government has gone wrong in some areas. The Government does not respond immediately. We do not know why the vehicles are there. The police officers and the Provincial Administration are there and you do not find these people on the ground. When you get to the police quarters, they say they have sent people and that they are on the ground. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when we go to the Police Headquarters, they tell us that they have sent officers on the ground and yet we do not see them. So, we do not know where they are and people continue to suffer. The biggest problem is between Samburus and Turkanas, Samburus and Merus, Turkanas and other neighbouring communities from other countries like Sudan and Ethiopia. We were privileged to go to Ethiopia where we found Kenyans had died because of the way we have organized our security systems in the country. In Ethiopia, the chief is the one who posts and monitors the KPR. This group is then sent to this country to take animals. So, you find that our people are at the mercy of God when these people mount a raid. They come in their hundreds. They are not police but ordinary people who are armed to the teeth. They have terrorized these communities and taken their animals. There is nobody who thinks about school because you cannot think about school when there is death at your doorstep. You only think about your safety first. In other areas, some animals have been taken from Kenya by Kenyans to Uganda and nobody follows them. Day-in, day-out, animals are driven to Uganda and sold and then the money is brought back to Kenya. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is very important that this report is debated and passed so that these recommendations can be implemented, so that these people can live like other Kenyans. For many years, since this practice has been on, those Kenyans have not engaged themselves in any meaningful development because they have been"
}