Residents of Kanjama village, Kiru ward in Mathioya constituency have raised alarm over a fresh wave of stock theft that has left many counting losses.
The residents are also questioning the effectiveness of the local security agencies because despite making numerous reports, no one has been apprehended over the same.
Alice Ngonyo Mucheke is the latest victim whose only cow and her only source of livelihood was stolen in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Visibly distressed, she narrates that this was the second major loss she had suffered as she had lost another cow last year.
“Last year I lost another cow worth Sh. 300,000, which was stolen but unfortunately fell into a hole as the thieves drove it away. This other one was worth Sh. 200,000 and the money to purchase it was a loan which I have been servicing using the proceeds from the milk sales,” she wails.
“My son woke me up at 3 am upon realizing that something was amiss as he found his clothesline cut and when we followed the trail, we realized that the cow was missing, as the calf had managed to flee,” she added.
Ngonyo and her son immediately raised alarm which woke up the entire village and followed the hoof prints which led them to a spot where the cow was likely loaded onto a vehicle.
A cap found at the scene suggested that the thieves fled in a hurry.
“I immediately made a report at the police station but they told me to investigate and I’m wondering how to carry out my own investigation yet they are the ones with the resources to bring the perpetrators to book? she paused.
Another resident, John Mbui says that they believe the thieves are amongst the villagers, yet even after numerous reports have been made, nothing has been done.
“Last night at 3am we were called and informed that our neighbor’s cow had been stolen. We engaged in a search that yielded nothing,” he said.
“Last week, another cow was stolen and they are not just stealing animals, they are stealing the future as they are targeting the high yielding dairy cows, productive goats and chicken. How can we develop economically if this continues?” he asks
The residents are now demanding a security forum to chart the way forward as well as swift police action to curb the menace.
A visibly angry Mangar’a Mwangi says if nothing is done, they will take matters into their own hands and deal with the perpetrators.
“We want to send a strong warning to the perpetrators of these actions, that we will remain vigilant as a community and we will not allow saboteurs of our economic development in our area,” he warned.
By Florence Kinyua
