A total of 90 sheep and goats have been reported dead in Kang’ing’olemong’in, Turkana South sub county.
Experts are trying to establish the cause of the deaths. Water and soil samples from a well where tens of livestock were reported dead after drinking water yesterday have today been collected for lab testing.
County Chief Officer for Livestock Development Dr. Ezekiel Etelej on Friday led a team from the Veterinary and Public Health Department to Kang’ing’olemong’in area of Lokichar Ward where the 90 goats and sheep reportedly died to collect the water samples.
Dr. Etelej said the County Government was concerned over the unfortunate incident and called for calm as the samples are taken for laboratory chemical analysis.
County Director for Veterinary Services Dr. Benson Long’or noted that postmortem examination on lungs showed extreme hemorrhage and emphysema which could have led to low oxygen supply to vital organs leading to death.
Dr. Long’or pointed out that definitive diagnosis of the water sample would help rule out any possibility of water contamination within the area.
Area MCA Samwel Lomodo called for proper analysis of the water samples.
Tullow Oil operational supervisor Ken Ogutu said they will cooperate with the county government and support the affected families.
By Peter Gitonga
