Police have arrested ten people suspected to be cattle rustlers along the troubled border of Nandi and Kisumu counties.
Kisumu County Commissioner John Elungata said police are trailing 16 other suspected rustlers including butcher operators linked to animal theft in the troubled border.
This comes three days after a suspected rustler Willy Kabur was shot dead by police on Wednesday night. Two of his accomplice also escaped with gun wounds.
Mr Elungata said they are determined to end the cattle rustling racket that always ignites border clashes leading to loss of lives and property.
There have been tribal clashes between the Nandi and Kisumu counties at Muhoroni occasioned by animal theft.
Two weeks ago, clashes along the border in Kibigori caused the death of three people with 15 people critically injured and destruction of property. Eight houses were also burnt in Kibigori.
Addressing a press conference at his office on Sunday, Elungata had released 50 names of suspected rustlers and business people linked to animal theft. In 2015, 562 cows were stolen with 400 recovered, he said.
The commissioner said 64 rustlers were made with only three convicted urging the Judiciary to support the war on the vice.
Elungata appealed for support from the public to win the war on cattle rustling.
“We request for support from the public by volunteering information for police to apprehend those colluding with cattle rustlers from Nandi,” he said.
He said most butchers that are selling cheap meat have been closed and their owners arrested for investigation to reveal their source of meat.
Elungata, who is the country security chairman, said the government will establish anti-stock theft unit in Kibigori area.
He said that two vehicles have already been allocated to the post to patrol the border.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Joseph Keitany said the unit will help fight rustlers in the animal theft prone areas to avoid conflicts and killings.
“The government is keen to end the clashes and rustling and as county security committee