Ferrying of meat between 6pm and 6am in Makueni County has been banned as a measure to curb rising cases of cattle rustling in the area.
The ban follows the theft of 30 cows and several goats since March this year, however part of the stolen livestock were recovered while the rest were slaughtered and sold by the cattle rustlers.
The ban was issued by the Makueni County Commissioner (CC), Maalim Mohammed at a baraza held at Malili market on Monday that local leaders and the community attended.
Mohammed further said that the meat should have a stamp from the person who inspects showing the origin in order to avoid selling uninspected meat to unsuspecting wananchi hence endangering their lives.
He also said that individuals moving animals should ensure they have a movement permit as they risked prosecution.
“Effective today (Monday), no meat will be ferried from 6pm as it is against the law. Those people transporting live animals, must have a movement permit,” said Mohammed.
Consequently, the administrator advised the farmers at Malili to secure their homesteads as most of them had not fenced their homes and animals slept in the open where thieves would easily steal the stock.
While challenging the residents to work closely with the security agencies, he urged them to volunteer, in confidence, information that would help arrest the culprits involved in this illegal business that has impoverished farmers.
Mohammed also asked the local residents to vet the farm hands that they employ in their farms as some of them are alleged to be colluding with the cattle rustlers to steal livestock.
On bars, the administrator lamented that there were 203 bars in Emali and Malili were more than schools and churches in the area and warned that he will close some as the premises are acting as criminal hide outs.
“I hear bars are more than schools and churches combined, we shall not allow such to continue as this is contributing to insecurity of the area. Thirty bars have since been closed,” said Mohammed.
On his part, Kilome Member of Parliament (MP), Eng. Thaddeus Nzambia said that he has rented a premises in Malili where a police post with 10 police officers can serve on a temporary basis as from August 1, 2019.
At the same time, Nzambia said that he has allocated Sh. 2 million to start the construction of Malili Police Post in two weeks’ time.
However, the legislator asked the local residents to work closely with the security agencies through Nyumba Kumi Initiative in a bid to improve security that was deteriorating in the area.
“I have set aside Sh. 300,000 to rent an office for 10 police officers to be posted to patrol in Malili market. This is a temporary measure since the construction of the police post will start soon,” said the MP.
By Patrick Nyakundi
