Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has issued a stern warning to illegal herders infiltrating the Meru National Park.
During a press briefing on Thursday, May 8, the CS revealed that these illegal herders have been involved in stealing cattle from local residents, a situation that has fueled tension and conflict, particularly along the Meru-Tharaka Nithi border.
Murkomen confirmed that the government is in the process of deploying additional officers from the newly formed National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU). These officers will work in coordination with the Kenya Wildlife Service and local authorities to apprehend the herders.
"A recent phenomenon that has emerged is the presence of illegal herders within the national park, who are causing conflict and, at times, stealing livestock from Tharaka Nithi residents," he said.
"We are working very closely with the KWS to flush out these illegal herders who come into the national park and take advantage of that opportunity to steal livestock from the local farmers," he added.
Additionally, the CS assured that the government, through the KWS, is in the process of ensuring swift compensation for victims of human-wildlife conflicts around the park.
"This county borders the Meru National Park, and therefore, human-wildlife conflict is being managed by the KWS. We are happy that they are engaging with the community, and a lot of effort is being put into compensation. We just want to listen to the people and see how we can make the process even more prompt," he stated.
The announcement comes days after the CS revealed that the number of stock theft and banditry cases had decreased from January to March.
In a statement on Saturday, May 3, the CS stated that in the past three months, only 167 cases of livestock theft were reported across the country, compared to 263 cases in the same period last year.
Furthermore, the CS revealed that a total of 4,935 livestock were stolen from January to March, compared to the 8,557 during the same period in 2024.
"Our first quarter security report covering January-March 2025 indicated a significant decrease in cases of banditry and stock theft," he stated.
"These significant gains are attributed to the concerted efforts of our security officers, including the NPR, working in close collaboration," he added.
