Police in Nyahururu have intensified the fight against livestock theft, leading to the recovery of more than 70 sheep and goats stolen recently from different parts of Laikipia and neighbouring counties.
Nyahururu Sub-county Police Commander, Joseph Matiku, said the animals were recovered within Kaposor Village near Chamenek Forest. They had been locked inside a house.
“We conducted an intelligence-led operation within Kaposor Village near Chamenek Forest, where we recovered more than 70 sheep and goats.
Some residents have already identified their animals, while those yet to be claimed have been left at Nyahururu Police Station awaiting identification by their rightful owners,” said Matiku.
The police commander said investigations were ongoing to apprehend all suspects involved in the livestock theft syndicate.
Matiku said his officers remain highly alert and are working tirelessly to corner all those involved in livestock theft.
He said that the animals are mainly stolen at night before being ferried into the forest or isolated homesteads. He assured residents that they are pursuing all those responsible and they will face the full force of the law once apprehended.
Matiku urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities to village elders or the police to help curb the vice.
He noted that some of the recovered livestock had been stolen from neighbouring Nyandarua County, with owners travelling from distant areas to identify them.
Former Losogwa Ward Councilor, Ndungu Kariuki, one of the beneficiaries of the recovery, recounted the ordeal he went through after losing his sheep in June.
Kariuki said he was awakened at night and, upon stepping outside, was confronted by four armed men with bright torches who threatened to kill him if he did not return to his house.
“The thieves drove away with my sheep. I immediately reported the matter to Losogwa Police Station, and officers followed the trail of the getaway vehicle but were unable to recover the animals at that time,” he said.
He said he had visited the police station on three occasions to identify recovered livestock to no avail and expressed happiness that this time, he had identified one of his sheep.
Another resident, Rachel Njambi of Maili Saba Village, thanked the police after recovering four of the six sheep she lost in April.
“The first two times I came, I did not find any of my sheep. Today I have identified four of them. I sincerely thank the police officers for the excellent work they have done in recovering our livestock,” she said.
By Antony Mwangi
