Ferrying of live sheep and goats out of Kajiado County has been banned with immediate effect, in a move aimed at curbing livestock theft which has become rampant in the area.
In a Public Notice signed by Agriculture, CECM Jackline Koin, the county has directed that all goats and sheep shall be slaughtered in a county registered abattoir/slaughter house and ferried as carcass.
Only sheep and goats for rearing, shall be issued with a movement permit upon producing an introduction letter from the destination area Chief.
According to the directive, issued under the Kajiado County Livestock Sale Yards Act 2020, all big stocks such as cattle and camels from the sale yards shall be moved out of the county upon issuance of the movement permit by the County Animal Health Inspectors and validated by the area of origin chiefs and the livestock sale yards’ committees.
Movement or ferrying of all livestock and livestock carcass will only be done between 8am to 6pm.
“Take note that failure to adhere to the above, upon conviction one shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh50,000 or imprisonment to a term not exceeding three months,” the notice read.
The move comes in the wake of widespread theft of livestock across the county, especially in Kajiado East where livestock farmers have lost over 1,000 sheep and goats this year.
The farmers welcomed the move by the county government to ban movement of live animals, adding that they had suffered for years as none of the stolen animals has ever been recovered.
However, livestock traders at Il Bissil market said the move would affect their business, as it was not possible to slaughter hundreds of livestock at once and transport it for sale outside the county.
By Rop Janet
