By A, KNA
A businessman suspected to be involved in livestock theft was arrested on Wednesday in Tumaini area of Olkalou Constituency, Nyandarua County, together with his son, after they were found with beef suspected to have come from stolen cattle.
The suspects were beaten mercilessly by irate members of the public before police officers intervened and rescued them. The meat is believed to have been transported to a butchery outlet in Olkalou town.
The beef is suspected to have originated from three cattle that were stolen from a homestead in Kagunda village, where the owner had earlier reported a case of livestock theft. The cattle owner later discovered that the animals had been slaughtered and transported using a pick-up vehicle.
Nyandarua Police Commander, Stella Cherono, confirmed the arrest of the businessman and his son and also announced the arrest of another suspect who is currently being held at North Kinangop hospital under police monitoring.
The commander said investigations began in Tumaini area, where the three animals were found already slaughtered.
The arrests form part of ongoing efforts by police to curb cases of livestock theft in Nyandarua County with the police Commander cautioning residents against taking the law into their own hands and urged them to report such incidents to the police.
The businessman and his son were first taken to JM Kariuki Hospital before being transferred to Kwa Ng’othi Mission Hospital in Kinangop for medical treatment.
The shell of the pickup vehicle used to transport the meat of the suspected stolen cows was towed to the station as exhibit.