Three Counties look at branding to tame livestock theft

Livestock in 19 Wards in the three neighbouring Counties of West Pokot, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet will be branded.

Sale of livestock not branded will be prohibited and denied movement permits in Tapach, Lelan, Batei, Lomut and Masool Wards in West Pokot as is to livestock in Tirioko, Kolowa, Silale,Saimo Soy, Bartabwa, Ilchamus, Mukutani, Ribko and Churo in Baringo County. In Elgeyo Marakwet, Wards mapped include Kapyego, Sambirir, Arror, Embobut-Embolot and Endo which has suffered immensely from the bandit attacks.

In a bid to tame the perennial Livestock theft in the region, governor’s from the three Counties tasked their CECs and technical staff from Livestock and Veterinary Departments to come up with proposals on how livestock would be branded.
The county chiefs while issuing a joint statement at Iten on Tuesday said cows not branded will not be allowed to be sold.

“There will be no movement permits for any livestock not branded. We will be working with the National Government to ensure that all cows are branded, ” said governor’s Simon Kachapin, Benjamin Cheboi and Wisley Rotich while addressing journalists at Iten.

The branding will be establish the county, Sub-County, the Ward and the crush where the animals were branded.

In a meeting between the CECs, COs and other technical livestock officers from the three Counties, livestock from each county will be branded according to specific codes.

The working committee that was chaired by Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Prof Grace Cheserek asked partners to support the exercise.
Members include CECs Wilfred Longronyang (West Pokot),Rsiper Chepkonga (Baringo), Edwin Seroney (Elgeyo Marakwet), Chief Officers, Livestock and Veterinary and Directors from the three Counties.