He was seven days late for Valentine's Day, but a bull calf in Kajiado was born with a pure white heart on his forehead. The rest of his coat is chocolate brown.
His name? Valentine, of course. And he's already running around, going up to visitors. His owner says he's friendly and naughty.
Certainly that's a good sign in a county where many people believe in signs and omens.
If they keep Valentine for stud, the family will have the pick of the heifers.
His owner, Justus Tonkei, is a teacher at Inkito Manoh Secondary in Kajiado West.
The dam is Lilian, a Borana cow, who gave birth on Saturday night.
When Tonkei woke up on Sunday morning to check on his cows, he was stunned to see his favourite cow giving birth to a calf with a heart on its forehead.
“I was stunned, I have never seen such a thing before. My neighbours trooped to my boma as early as 7am to see my little wonder. Lilian must have wondered what was happening as it guarded her little wonder," Tonkei said.
By the end of he day on Sunday, the calf had been named Valentine.
Valentine does not resemble his sire or mother in colour.
“Valentine looked at the villagers who thronged my boma as if he knew them. He appears naughty. He could run around the cowshed and when more people turned up, he could go near them as if it wants to greet the visitors,” Tonkei.
The teacher said the birth of Valentine is a God-sent sign of peace in this election year.
“He is a sign of love and peace and the people of Kenya should receive this message of harmony and uphold it in this election. I am appealing for peace. Lilian has shown us love and affection through her child,” Tonkei said.
Lilian has three other calves and produces 15 litres of milk daily.
“She is a friendly cow, my young children can milk her any time without any trouble but she guards her children very much,” said the teacher.
Tonkei is a brother to Jackline Koin, Kajiado CEC for agriculture and livestock.
(Edited by V. Graham)
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”
