By Felix Njenga
Githunguri subcounty security team has banned transportation of livestock at night in new measures to curb stealing of dairy milk cows in the area.
Githunguri cash crop being dairy milk faming has attracted thieves who have continued to terrorize them by taking away their source of livelihood.
According to James Ringera, the Assistant County Commissioner 1, speaking on behalf of the Deputy County Commissioner Githunguri Sub-County, the security team has put up several measures to curb livestock theft
“Due to the measures we have put in place, the theft of livestock has gone down and we have been able to recover several cows that had been stolen,” Ringera revealed.
He said that the measures put include banning the transportation of cows during the night.
“We have said that no transportation of livestock during the night and those who will be caught will face the law,” he warned.
He added that another measure is while buying and selling of livestock both buyer and seller should notify the area chief who in turn will issue a letter of recognition of the transaction.
He said that after getting a letter from the chief, the buyer should get a moving permit from a veterinary officer and while transporting the livestock the buyer should have chief’s letter and the records of the livestock.
” We have put these measures to ensure that no stealing of livestock in Githunguri will take place,” he said.
To further curb the stealing of livestock, the DCC has gone to the villages to sensitize residents on the need of forming village committees which will take the roll of reporting incidents to relevant authorities including challenges facing the village.
The residents have however been urged to submit relevant information to the committees so as to ensure their areas are safe and secure from livestock thieves.
John Wainaina, a farmer, said that he has been forced to put CCTV cameras in the cow shed since he has lost his two cows to theft.
“I am a dairy milk farmer which has employed me and gives me money to take care of my family. Thieves have invaded this place and our cows have gone, I have used unnecessary money to install CCTV cameras so that we can nab those who are terrorizing us,” he said.
Mary Wanjiku, another farmer said that farming dairy cows is not easy and once a cow is stolen is like killing a farmer since the cow is their daily earnings.
Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society chairman George Kinyanjui called on the security apparatus to beef up security so as to end the stealing.
“Even though as a cooperative we encourage our farmers to insure their cows, more security is needed to protect famers livestock,” he said.