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{
    "id": 958403,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/958403/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 64,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I join Sen. Wambua in asking the Committee to take up this matter seriously. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I come from a county that struggles with cattle rustling. Therefore, I offer my support to Sen. Wambua and the suggestions on ways of handling these issues of cattle rustling and conflicts between farmers and livestock keepers. We struggled in Elgeyo-Marakwet for a long period of time between ourselves and West Pokot and we still do. Interestingly, the Chairperson of the Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations comes from the county that Sen. Wambua is complaining about cattle rustlers and grazers. I want to suggest to Sen. Wambua something that we tried the past three months. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you must have seen in the news that there are no more reports coming from Kerio Valley of people dying and livestock being stolen. We realised that the modern policemen are not as courageous as the policemen we used to have before. Most of them who were posted to Kerio Valley used to spend time in market centres enjoying life and their allowances. They were not taking the risk to be on the frontline in dealing with cattle rustlers. The first step was to look for reservists. Those reservists helped us to some extent, but some police reservists are from one side while others are from the other and, therefore, they cannot mingle. So, everybody is trying to protect their turf. We decided to talk to our people jointly as leaders from West Pokot and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties and we held meetings. We went and looked for the cattle rustlers because they do not have jobs or anything to do. We held meetings and discussed about a possibility of grazing rights for livestock keepers from West Pokot and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties. For three months now, we have enjoyed a lot of peace. Other than just depending on police officers to deal with the situation, local leaders like Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and opinion leaders can borrow a leaf from what we did and organise a conversation because nobody needs to fight another for grazing animals on their farms and destroying crops or doing all sorts of things. We even went with a lawyer to sign an agreement on how to keep peace and relate with our neighbours. Those are the only mechanisms that can work. Interestingly, during the previous Parliament, Sen. Haji also helped in ensuring that there is peace in Kapedo and some parts of Wajir and Mandera counties. This can be achieved in Kitui and Garissa counties. The Senate can play a role by having Sen. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}