A suspected member of a cattle theft syndicate operating between Likuyani and Lugari sub counties was arrested as five cows and a sheep were recovered.
Lugari Sub County Police Commander Patrick Maundu said the suspect, Caleb Mwambi, is linked with the theft of all the six animals that were recovered.
He said the suspect who is a renowned business man at Mwamba trading center has two homesteads; one in Mwamba sub location Lugari Sub County and another one in Sango sub location in Likuyani Sub County where he has been hiding and feeding stolen animals inside a house as he looks for market.
He said two cows were found hidden inside a house in Sango awaiting to be sold while the third cow had been sold on Friday ready to be slaughtered in a funeral within Sango before officers from Kogo police patrol base working on a tip off from the public stormed the funeral accompanied by Sango sub location assistant chief Fridah Lusweti Shirengo and members of the community policing group managed to stop the cow from being slaughtered.
“The cow had been sold at Kshs. 26,000 and was to be slaughtered in a funeral before police saved it from the butcher’s knife,” said Maundu.
He said the suspect had given two other cows to Miss Milcah Ndisa who has been looking after them within Sango sub location.
He added that the sheep had also been sold to Mr. Joseck Chimwami at Kshs. 2,500 who on hearing that Mwambi had been arrested in connection to livestock theft, surrendered the sheep to police officers suspecting that he might also have stolen it.
The SCPC said already the sheep and two cows out of the five have been identified by their owners who hail from Mwamba sub location.
He urged those who may have lost their cows to thieves to visit Turbo police station and help identify the remaining three.
With cases of animal theft on rise in the area the police boss pledged his commitment towards ensuring maximum security all over the sub county as he appealed for cooperation from members of the public to help stamp out the vice.
