Five thugs who were caught ferrying stolen livestock worth over Sh2 million ($20000), along the Naivasha-Longonot highway, north west of Nairobi, have been arrested.
Nancy Njeri, 40, Philip Karuga, 55, John Mwaura, 49, James Githinji, 44 and Peter Cecilia, 49 were arrested in a lorry full of stolen sheep, by Naivasha-based detectives.
The lorry registration number KBM 076Z, was headed for the lucrative Nairobi market when the sleuths acting on intelligence leads intercepted it.
The sheep had been stolen from a herder in Longonot’s Mirera area, barely two weeks after another herder lost livestock worth over Sh2.5 million (£25000).
In a new crime wave that appears to be gaining currency, unscrupulous city traders have taken advantage of the growing demand for meat, and resorted to stealing livestock from herders in counties neighbouring Nairobi.
The animals find their way to the established Dagoretti and Kiamaiko livestock markets, where they are hurriedly slaughtered and supplied to the city.
In December last year, a butcher operating a chain of eateries along the eastern bypass, was arrested by detectives following the disappearance of livestock in neighboring Machakos county, Eastern part of the country.
Meanwhile, the five arrested suspects are in custody as detectives prepare to arraign them too court.
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