Samburu cattle theft sentences man to 60 years in prison

A Samburu court has sentenced a convicted cattle thief to 60 years in prison in a precedent-setting case after finding him guilty of two counts of robbery with violence.

Ekano Lokadaa was arrested in the Lonyek area in August 2023 amid an escalation of gun violence that left dozens dead and property stolen or vandalized in several parts of Samburu West.

His arrest followed evidence linking him to several incidents of theft that devastated the livelihoods of local herdsmen.

During the trial, prosecutors described Lokadaa’s involvement in the organized crime network that made it difficult for security forces to track stolen livestock in the Samburu West region.

The court was told that his actions, which he carried out together with others who remain at large, had severely affected the local herding community, which relies heavily on livestock for survival.

In one charge, Lokadaa was accused of robbing Pulanti Lenyalwa of 20 heads of cattle valued at Sh5 million while armed with dangerous rifles.

Another charge details Lokadaa’s role in the theft of 27 heads of cattle worth Sh1.35 million from Mr Lematon Lepalkimoi.

“This is a serious crime. May the court give him the necessary punishment he deserves,” the prosecution said.

The then Maralal Chief Magistrate, James Wanyanga, ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges against Lokadaa “beyond reasonable doubt”.

He noted that the evidence provided met the required legal standards, which constitutes a strong argument for the conviction of the accused.

The Lokadaa sentence was pronounced by the new chief magistrate of Maralal, Victor Asiyo.

“Prosecutors proved the charges to the required standard,” Asiyo said in handing down the sentence Monday.

Lokadaa’s 30-year sentence for each count will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 30 years, unless he appeals.

Despite Lokadaa’s plea for leniency, Mr Asiyo took into account the seriousness of the crimes and sentenced Lokadaa to reflect the harm inflicted on local communities.

Lokadaa was given 14 days to appeal the ruling.

The cattle rustling crisis in Samburu West has escalated over the past 19 months, with banditry leading to multiple deaths, widespread displacement and lasting trauma among local communities.

Families across the region, still recovering from repeated attacks, continue to face the enormous challenge of rebuilding their lives amid persistent threats and deep-rooted trauma.

Thousands of displaced herders remain homeless after they were forced to abandon their properties for safety reasons as livestock theft continues to devastate the region.