The government has ruled out compensation to victims of cattle rustling.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen told MPs on Wednesday that systemic marginalisation had led to underdevelopment of the affected regions.
He said communities are the common underlying factors in banditry-prone areas across the country.
“We have no legal policy framework for compensation. From a criminal justice standpoint, if we were to compensate, the affected families then other people in town who had their phones stolen or houses broken into would demand compensation,” Mr Murkomen said.
Mr Murkomen appeared before the committee chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo to respond to questions on the security situation in Samburu County.
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He said the government will not continue treating banditry purely as a security problem while ignoring the socio-economic conditions in which it flourished.
The committee, which comprised MPs from three banditry-prone areas, clashed as to whether marginalisation is to blame for the ongoing clashes, even as the government ruled out compensating affected families.
While some of the lawmakers claimed that criminal activities have increased in the regions because of abandonment by the State, some claimed that underdevelopment in any region should not be used as an excuse by those engaging in the said rustling acts.
Mr Murkomen told MPs that poor roads, lack of schools, inadequate water infrastructure, weak communication networks and limited access to government services had created conditions in which banditry could thrive.
“Whereas the other factors might contribute, in my personal opinion, I think the greatest thing that contributes to banditry is marginalisation. I think, in my personal opinion, the fact that you go to Samburu, or in Baringo, you go to Tiaty constituency, there are no roads. There is no network,” he said.
“I know communities are fighting over themselves. But the reality is that, on this particular issue, everybody is trying to stand their ground, to look like they are defending their community. But all of them are victims, and as I said earlier, of marginalization.”
Mr Murkomen said the government will not compensate people whose livestock and property have been lost during the attacks, insisting that its responsibility is to protect life and property, investigate incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.
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He said deploying more police officers without addressing the underlying causes would only provide a temporary solution.
“There are no roads. There is no network. There are no schools. There is no education. Accessibility and underdevelopment is the greatest contributor,” Mr Murkomen said.
“Unless proper roads network, communication network, schools, water infrastructure is developed in this area, police and security will continue doing this over and over and over.”
Murkomen said between June and September 2026, 14 people were killed and 17 injured across the affected region.
The September 16 attack in which five people, including two police officers, a National Police Reservist and two civilians, were killed highlighted the danger facing security personnel and residents.
Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri said marginalisation should not be used to cover up the killings that have been going on.
He said marginalisation should not be a justification that animals are sacred to other regions and should not be killed, yet human lives have been lost due to the banditry situation.
“Marginalisation is not a justification for stating that cows are sacred to some regions. There is no sacredness for one community,” he said.
“People have suffered, people have been killed and others have been left homeless. The sacred cows do not matter to me and the people of Meru. What we want is to hear about compensation.”
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Tigania West MP John Mutunga demanded to know how marginalisation is harbouring banditry, even as he accused the security system of failing to arrest leaders who are supporting banditry.
“I believe that this security operation going on is because some senior police officers were killed,” he said.
Igembe North MP Julius Taitum said any life is sacred and the community supports the operation targeting the bandits.
“if people can kill then there can never be development,” Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuda said.
Samburu Women’s Representative Pauline Lenguris said livestock are sacred, have no voice, and that is why Samburu leaders have become their voices.
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