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Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday toured the Kerio Valley of Elgeyo/Marakwet, Baringo and West Pokot Counties to assure communities in the area that the Government will not allow recurrence of cattle rustling.

Mr Ruto said additional security officers will be deployed in the valley including recruitment of 3,200 Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) to boost efforts in the war against cattle rustling.

 He said security officers already on the ground will be redeployed to hotspots. 

“It is pointless to have police officers in shopping centers while criminals are attacking people from known valleys. 

Police must be stationed where criminals are coming from,” said Mr Ruto. He told police to arrest those terrorizing wananchi along the valley saying they were known to the people. “How come residents in the area know names by name and yet no arrests are made?’ he asked.

Mr Ruto had travelled to the Kerio Valley from Luanda, Angola, where he had gone to represent President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 7th high-level meeting of Regional Oversight Mechanisms (ROM) for Peace and Security Cooperation Framework (PSC-F) for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the region. 

Leaders who attended the meeting held at Tot World Vision grounds in Marakwet East Constituency included Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaisery, MPs John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), David Bowen (Marakwet East), Susan Chebet (Elgeyo Marakwet), Lati Lelelit (Samburu East), Philip Rotino (Sigor) and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett.

 Others were Governors Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet), Moses Lelnokulal (Samburu), Simon Kachapin (West Pokot) and Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo) and former MP Linah Jebiii Kilimo.

 Mr Ruto put cattle rustlers on notice, saying the Government will deal ruthlessly with anyone found engaging in the retrogressive practice that is the cause of insecurity among the pastoralists.