Farmers in Ndhiwa Sub County have decried increasing cases of livestock theft in the area.
The Secretary of Homa Bay County Livestock and Meat Traders Cooperative Society Paul Osodo said an increasing number of farmers have lost their livestock to thieves in the recent past.
He said that the cattle were stolen in Ndhiwa and transported to slaughter houses in neighbouring sub-counties.
The Secretary said that the stolen animals were mostly sold to abattoirs in the neighbouring counties of Migori, Kisii and Siaya through Lake Victoria. He expressed concerns that the theft had exacerbated in the recent past.
Addressing the press in Homa Bay town Sunday, Osodo said theft of cattle has become so rampant that farmers and traders were no longer making any profits from their ventures.
He said more than 200 herds of cattle had been stolen in Ndhiwa Sub-county in the last three months. “We are tired of these thieves. Every week they steal cattle and as we speak farmers and traders have lost more than 200 herds of cattle over the past three months,” Osodo.
He said some of the thieves transported the stolen livestock with boats to Rarieda Sub-county in Siaya through Lake Victoria. “They have developed the habit of using boats to transport the livestock but we have known their tricks,” he added.
Osodo said they had instructed abattoir operators in Homa Bay County to ensure anybody who takes an animal for slaughtering takes a photograph with the animal before it is slaughtered.
“We have instructed slaughter house operators to ensure people who slaughter cattle in their houses take pictures with the cattle. This can help us identify stolen cattle,” he added.
He urged security agencies in the county to intervene and curb the situation. “We call on our security officers to help us eradicate this crime,” he said.
Maurice Ogony, a farmer complained that his cow was recently stolen. “I have suffered a lot, they recently stole my cow. We appeal for intervention from our security agencies,” said Ogony.
The suspect perpetrators of the crime hail from Ndhiwa. “Two prime suspects from Ndhiwa were arrested by police in Kehancha, Migori County on Thursday. They were found with three cattle whose owners have not been identified,” Osodo added.
By Davis Langat
