Cattle rustling may be considered by many an outdated cultural practice where pastoralist communities steal livestock from each other, either to pay bride price or boost their herds, but that is not the case anymore. Pastoralists are now faced with modern day cattle rustling, which has led to the changing face of the vice. According to the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, cattle rustling are now a commercial venture. And investigations across pastoral communities indicate that politicians and influential business men and women are not only turning a blind eye to the trade, but are indeed the ones funding it. Judy Kosgei spent 4 days with one pastoralist community and discovered the secret and players behind the booming illegal trade. This in our first part of "The Death Merchants".