Last Thursday's fire at Ndunyu Njeru Police Station in Kinangop Constituency, Nyandarua County, in which three suspects accused of livestock theft died, has brought to light the growing severity of livestock theft in the region.
The incident was the culmination of long-standing anger and frustration among dairy farmers, who claim to have suffered significant losses due to widespread livestock theft. Hotspots for cattle theft include Kinangop, Ol Kalou and Ndaragwa.
Residents have now openly expressed their frustrations, vowing to protect their livestock considered the he county's most reliable form of commercial farming, following the collapse of pyrethrum farming and challenges in Irish potato farming caused by exploitative brokers.
“The criminals target pedigree cows that are a month or less from delivery. These cows are the only source of income for many families most of whom purchase them through loans from local Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (Saccos) and Kinangop Dairies,” said farmer Jackson Mwangi. “These cows are top-quality producing between 20 and 40 kilogrammes of milk per day. Each costs between Sh100,000 and Sh250,000 depending on age and breed.”
Nyandarua County, despite being a food basket, struggles with high rates of stunted growth and obesity—issues linked to a lack of sufficient protein and vitamin intake, which milk provides.
The police station was set on fire just three days after an angry mob burned a suspected livestock thief to death in the same constituency. During the May 23 incident, residents also torched a vehicle used by the suspects although others managed to escape. This was not the first time residents had taken such drastic action.
On April 1 last year, angry locals stormed Githabai Police Post, forcibly took a livestock theft suspect from police custody and stoned him to death. They then raided and vandalised the local Assistant County Commissioner’s Office.
Residents accused the police of colluding with livestock thieves claiming that officers were even transporting stolen cows in official vehicles. One suspect, pleading for mercy, allegedly named a senior police officer as an accomplice, further fuelling public anger.
Following intervention by Woman Representative Faith Gitau several officers implicated in the thefts were transferred within Kinangop. But residents say the problem persists.
“We are still losing livestock and the police are not helping. We have been forced to deal with the thieves ourselves,” said Kinangop farmer John Maina.
In April, Francis Njuguna lost three cows overnight. He had bought two of them using a Sh250,000 loan.
“Dairy farming is a lucrative venture here because we have well-structured marketing systems. With average milk prices at Sh40 per kilo, and each cow producing at least 20 kilos a day, a farmer can earn Sh18,000 per month per cow. With three cows, I could support my family and educate my children,” he explained.
But after the theft, Mr Njuguna sold a plot of land to repay the loan and buy one replacement cow.
Ms Joyce Muturi, another victim, lost two cows. “I used milk income to educate my daughters. Each cow produced 30 kilos of milk per day thanks to the husbandry training and supplements provided through a county programme,” she said. “Most of my customers were local, paying Sh50 per kilo. Now I have school fee arrears and no cows.”
In another case last year, youth from Githabai tracked down one of Ms Peninah Wainaina’s stolen cows. She had lost three in one night. Although they photographed the suspect with the cow, police took hours to act.
By the time they did, the other cows had been sold with the suspect being arrested but later released for lack of evidence.
Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha described the livestock theft crisis as a major blow to the local economy.
“With the collapse of pyrethrum, we turned to dairy as a quick win. We have introduced subsidised AI services, employed more livestock officers and strengthened cooperatives. The county has also distributed value-addition equipment to youth and women groups,” he said.
The governor however acknowledged that the gains are being eroded by increasing livestock thefts. “We are losing cows at an alarming rate and security agencies must prioritise this issue,” he said.
Nyandarua Farmers Mega Association Chairperson Chege Kahuni said about three farmers report livestock theft every week.
“This is a complex crime with devastating household and economic impacts. Farmers are resorting to drastic action to protect their livelihoods. It’s hard to believe stolen cows and meat can be transported undetected with all the roadblocks and patrols. We suspect insider collusion. By law, livestock products cannot be moved between 6pm and 6am,” Mr Kahuni said.
According to confessions by some arrested suspects, the stolen meat is transported to Thika, Kiambu, Naivasha and Nakuru while live cows are sold in Nyanza and Western Kenya.
During the Ndunyu Njeru Police Station attack, residents had camped outside all day.
At around 7pm, residents stormed the station after the suspects’ vehicle was set on fire.
Addressing the public, County Police Commander Stella Cherono urged calm. “If you feel the police aren’t serving you well, raise the issue with senior offices—action will be taken. But don’t destroy stations; you still need them,” she said, adding that investigations into cattle theft was ongoing.
