Spate of cattle theft using anaesthesia hit Murang’a residents

Murang’a residents have expressed concerns over livestock thieves in the county, who use alcohol, anesthesia before selling them to either butcher in the bushes or to unscrupulous meat vendors.

According to police, the targeted animals are now being sprayed with surgical aneasthetic chemicals which induce them to pass unconscious and make theft simpler.

Most cases of rustling, according to Hassan Aden Ali, a county community policing support project board member, have resulted in the finding of empty bottles of exceptionally powerful alcoholic beverages.

“In other incidents we find wet pieces of clothes that upon analysis have turned out to be doused with anesthesia,” he said.

According Ade the most commonly targeted animals in this scam are chickens, cows, goats, pigs, and donkeys.

As a result, regional security officers have prohibited the transportation of animals and meat at night.

“It is mandatory that meat and animals be carried between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. We will not consider transportation late at night “Peter Muchemi, the Gatanga County Police Commander, confirmed the incident.

He claims that rustlers from other Sub Counties use his area as a transit zone to take plunder to Kiambu and Nairobi illegal markets.

The same meat business punishments, according to Murang’a South Sub County Police Commander Alexander Shikondi, will apply.

“We want all meat transporters to be registered and adhere to public health guidelines on how it is packed and transported…this habit of some characters packing meat in sacks and covering it with leaves will stop,” he said.

He claims that rustlers from other Sub Counties use his area as a transit zone to take plunder to Kiambu and Nairobi illegal markets.

The same meat business punishments, according to Murang’a South Sub County Police Commander Alexander Shikondi, will apply.

Shikondi stated that all slaughterhouses will be registered as well.

“We want to be certain. When we get you delivering meat, you should be able to tell us from where slaughterhouse the meat came,” he stated.

In Kandara, police chief Michael Mwaura said vigilance has been enhanced following rustler attacks.

In Kandara, police chief Michael Mwaura said vigilance has been enhanced following rustler attacks.

“The rustlers are our neighbors who get together with foreigners to steal cows, goats, and pigs. Others take hens. We must be vigilant in the face of overburdened security agents,’ he stated.

He claimed that the gangs work with pharmacists who sell them sedative medications as well as booze stores that provide them with strong concoctions to knock the animals off.

“There are also transporters who hire out their cars and motorcycles for use in the racket. Consider yourself to be living recklessly since we are on your tail “He stated.

He also warned area chiefs who keep quiet even when they are aware of bushes inside their authority that they will face consequences.

The county’s security condition assessment for fiscal year 2021/22 estimates that this scam will cost area breeders an average of Sh5 million per week.