Kisumu County security team plans to name top business people linked to cattle rustling at the borders of Nandi, Kericho and Kisumu.
This comes as preliminary investigations revealed that a number of butcher operators within Kisumu, Kakamega, Mumias and other neighbouring towns are involved in the animal theft racket.
County commissioner John Elungata said some rustlers confessed that they have been ‘contracted’ by butcher owners to steal animals in exchange of cash.
Elungata said investigations reveal these towns are thriving through cattle rustling.
He claimed there was a cartel in the meat trade comprising prominent business people drawn from Kisumu and neighboring towns.
He said police will next week name butcher operators allegedly behind cattle rustling in the region. Three people linked to rustling have been arrested and arraigned in court.
“We have reliable reports that the animals are slaughtered at night immediately they are stolen and packed in sacks for transport to various butcher destinations for sale,” Elungata said.
This, he said has hampered their efforts to trace the cattle.
Elungata said they plan brand animals from Kisumu to facilitate the identification of animals in case of cattle theft.
Speaking to the press at his office yesterday, he said the rustlers collude with their colleagues from neighbouring counties to steal animals.
Elungata accompanied by county police commander Nelson Njiri said the meat is sold without government inspection.
“We are warning butcher operators to stop selling meat which has not been inspected and source verified or face the law,” he said.
He said that police were trailing key suspects linked to rustling and have gone underground since the syndicate was exposed.
Elungata also told residents they were to blame for the animal theft that fuels clashes along the border, adding that they the ones hiding criminals.
He also warned youths who colluded with the thieves to steal cattle from Kisumu and slaughter them at sugarcane plantation.
“We have evidence that the youth collude with rustlers from outside to steal cattle with the intention of slaughtering them and the meat sold elsewhere,” he said.
Elungata, who chairs the county security meetings, asked residents to cooperate with police to end cattle rustling.
On December 23, police recovered 14 animals that had been stolen.