Farmers in Takaungu sub-location in Kikambala division, Kilifi County are crying foul over what they termed as the donation of “sick cows” from the county government.
The cows had been donated to mitigate against the loss of over 200
dairy cows in May last year, which farmers had alleged were poisoned.
The over 50 farmers were given a cow each by the county government as a way of relieving them from their loss. Speaking to the press today the farmers’ representative Mr. Benson Chai claimed that the cows are constantly falling sick with east coast fever while some have died.
He said four cows died in the same week after they were donated.
“We are having questions concerning these cows and their deaths are worrying us. We might lose all of them. That is why we are asking the department of veterinary services to intervene," Chai
Responding to the allegations , the County director of veterinary services Dr. Mwachiro Kiti refuted claims that the farmers were conned, conned saying veterinary officers had checked the health of the animals thoroughly before they were donated.
He said that the area which the farmers lived has always been prone to the infestation of east coast fever and that environmental changes could also have caused the animals to fall sick.
He asked the farmers to be calm adding that veterinary officers have been sent to the affected areas to establish the problem and treat the animals.