Seven Raiders Killed in Uganda As Cattle Are Stolen
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
May 23, 2005
Posted to the web May 23, 2005
John Oroni and Titus Maero
Nairobi
Seven suspected cattle rustlers were killed by Ugandan forces at Kapchorwa District along the Kenya-Uganda border on Saturday night.
The seven, who were Pokots, were among raiders who stole 117 head of cattle from Kapchorwa.
The Pokots are believed to have been on a revenge mission after the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) allegedly killed two Pokot herders on Friday.
The rustlers also took police officers at Chepchoina police post in hostage for three hours before they escaped with animals to West Pokot District.
"They overpowered our men and escaped with the animals," said Trans-Nzoia DC Christopher Musumbu.
Musumbu said that security forces were pursuing the rustlers who disappeared to Kanyarukwat with the animals.
West Pokot District Commissioner Stephen Ikua said yesterday the bodies of the slain raiders were still in Uganda.
The raid took place as the Kenya and Uganda governments announced a disarmament plan for pastoralists.
On Friday, suspected UPDF militia attacked Pokot herdsmen and killed two. One of them was a relative of former Kacheliba MP Peter Nang'ole.
The bodies were removed to the Kitale District Hospital mortuary by General Service Unit officers.
Kapenguria Member of Parliament Samuel Moroto blamed the UPDF for the Saturday incident, saying they had provoked the Pokot.
He said the Ugandan forces had taken advantage of the on-going disarmament to perpetrate the attack.
"We are blaming the Ugandan forces for the mess," he told The Standard on telephone.
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Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop Stephen Kewasis also condemned the killings and called on the Government to send more security officers along the common border to prevent further attacks.
Kewasis warned that the disarmament plan would endanger the Pokot and their livestock.
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