Central Kenya is in the clutch of crime as reports of livestock theft become routine, with the latest wave being reported in Nyeri County where County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi has raised alarm over rising incidents of livestock theft.

Mr Mwiwawi expressed the concerns on Thursday when he addressed dairy farmers in Mukurwe-ini town. The region, he said, has been in the grip of rising livestock theft, with donkeys, poultry, cattle and goats targeted. Unlike robberies and housebreaks that usually takes place at night, livestock theft happens in broad daylight, he observed.

“It saddens me whenever I learn that someone who once owned two or three cows and depended on them to pay bills has lost them to thieves,” Mwiwawi said.

This is the second wave of livestock thefts to rock the county since the beginning of the year. In January, residents of Kwamburu, Mahiga and Mwiyogo in Kieni East Sub-County protested over the rampant livestock theft incidents. The angry residents blamed the local administration and police for failing to take action to prevent the theft of cows, goats and poultry.

“The thieves have graduated from robbing us at night, they are now stealing from us in broad daylight and ferrying the loot using Proboxes and pick-ups. My dairy goat was stolen during the day as it was grazing n my farm,” Mercy Wanjiku lamented.

“We have reported the incidents to the police, the deputy county commissioner and the chief but no action is taken. We are now appealing to the county commissioner to launch his own investigations and establish whether the local administration is serving the residents as it should. It is not normal for such cases to go on without the intervention of government officials,” James Ng’ang’a, another resident, observed.   

Mwiwawi called for concerted efforts between the residents and the security team to help stem the vice before farmers lose their livelihoods. He also vowed to deal sternly with individuals colluding with the gangs to steal livestock from others.

Similarly, Mwiwawi warned that security teams in Nyeri will not tolerate vandalism and theft of public property during demonstrations. He said that following the Saba demonstrations during which more than 11 businesses in the county were vandalised, the security team together with the Nyeri Business Community had vowed to work together to protect their businesses against criminals.

“Some youth tried to break into supermarkets on July 8 and we will not allow that to happen again. Are we going to sit back and watch helplessly as businessmen lose to criminals what they have worked hard to build in the name of demonstrations?” the administrator posed.

He also assured the public of their safety during future demonstrations noting that going forward measures would be put in place to distinguish peaceful demonstrators from criminals who infiltrate the demonstrations.

“I appeal to any groups wishing to hold peaceful demonstrations to issue prior notice to the police detailing the routes to be taken, the number of people who will participate and the duration so that we are able to provide them with security. We are also urging them to inform us when their protests get infiltrated so that the security officers can take quick action to avert loss of lives and destruction of property,” he stated.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Wangari Mwangi and Daisy Mwanika