[Herders with their livestock at a grazing field. The government is set to compensate families who lost their animals.] (Photo/Star.)
Families in Merti whose livestock were stolen in Barchuma on the Isiolo - Marsabit border five months agao will receive Sh20 million from the national government as compensation.
The attack by armed bandits believed to be from Laisamis sub-county, Marsabit left 7 herders dead and others with injuries with hundreds of livestock stolen.
Isiolo county commissioner George Natembeya said the government will give the 31 affected families the cash by end of this month in a bid to alleviate their suffering.
According to the official, the amount will be distributed according to the number of animals each family lost.
"We have informed a team headed by Merti deputy commissioner Julius Maiyo to come up with a list of genuine claim since some herders are inflating the number of livestock they lost to the rustlers, while others who were not even affected want to benefit from the government assistance", said Natembeya.
The government had earlier given 7 families who lost their loved ones from the attack Sh50,000 each.