Pushed to the extreme ends of poverty, residents of Konza in Machakos County are living in perpetual fear of being attacked at night and robbed of their livestock and other property.

Fear, disbelief and sleepless nights has become the norm for over 100 households in Konza, Kalama Sub-County in Machakos. This comes on the back of herders losing close to 2,000 livestock through theft in the past two months.

The residents say they believe that the robbers are well versed with the area and it is a well-coordinated syndicate that is armed. They target mainly livestock.

According to Community Chair Thomas Mutuku in the past two months up to 2,000 livestock including, cows, goats and sheep have been stolen. This week the robbers raided several homesteads from where 60 cows were stolen in the dead of the night. The locals went after the thieves in a cat and mouse chase through the rough Konza plains in vain.

Mutuku says they have informed the police from Konza Police Post and community security team who have taken up the case together with officers from the KWS and other cattle owners as they devise ways to capture the armed bandits.

Jay Matelo, a caretaker and security guard in one of the targeted homes, said he was attacked by two armed robbers in the middle of the night who locked him inside his house after cutting through the fence and went ahead to steal several goats. The thieves slaughtered the young goats and carried away the carcases.

Jay claims that while locked inside the house, he saw the thieves slaughtering the young goats, extracting their intestines, combining it with blood and drinking the mixture before fleeing. The act, the locals say, they believe is a ritual to render the thieves untouchable, conceal their identity and aid them in their ruthless livestock theft.

One of the affected owners of the cattle, Leonard Chege says they have been sleeping outside to curb insecurity in the area. He is devastated as he is left with the carcasses of his livestock that have been devoured by vultures.

“It seems they are offering sacrifices by slaughtering the young goats, drinking their blood and eating the intestines because they become invisible and cannot be affected by any curse sworn upon them after stealing the livestock. When you chase them you become confused,” Chege observed.

Chege adds that after a joint operation by KWS, police and community members some cattle were recovered as they are following up with the rest.

The police have so far arrested one suspect with four mobile phones recovered and undergoing forensic analysis, they also intercepted two vehicles, a Probox and a Nissan that the suspects used to flee the scene which have been held at Konza Police Post.

The police and other involved security forces have assured the residents of swift investigations of arresting the armed robbers and putting an end to the alarming livestock theft that has deprived the Konza community in Kalama of sleep and peace.

The young goats that were slaughtered had their blood drawn and intestines extracted by thieves who have been targeting livestock at Konza in Kalama of Machakos County.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Anne Kangero

The young goats after being devoured by vultures at Kalama sub county in Machakos.