Leaders from the Rift Valley are now calling for special prayers over increased cattle rustling in the North Rift region.

The leaders who were attending a thanksgiving event on Sunday, October 9, in Ainabkoi, Uasin Gishu county, said the bandit attacks have become a major threat and only special prayers can solve the problem and risks associated with it.

Nandi Senator, Samson Cherargei, said “the banditry attacks have left many families empty as key members are killed by the bandits and their livestock stolen.

“We want to take prayers to the North Rift region because now these attacks are too much.”

The Senator called on parliament to amend the terrorism act, that will enable the government to deal with bandits.

“We must make hard and painful decisions to amend the terrorism act to ensure the bandits who continue to kill our people along the North rift region are treated as terrorists. It is a threat to national security, I will lead the amendment to terrorism act,” Cherargei added.

On his part, the Roads and Transport CS nominee Kipchumba Murkomen said the government will make sure Kerio Valley is a haven of peace.

“We thank God no one will be shot again. When Kithure Kindiki takes over we will make sure that peace returns to Kerio Valley and other areas,” Murkomen said.

The leaders now want the counties of Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet and Samburu be brought together in the prayers to end banditry.

There have been numerous cases of cattle rustling in northern Kenya as nomadic pastoralist communities lose thousands of livestock to a drought that, according to the government, has left millions on the brink of starvation.