101 of the 1,500 sheep stolen when a group of goons invaded the Kenyatta family’s Northlands farm in Ruiru, Kiambu County on March 27 have been recovered.
Some of the animals were returned voluntarily and others were recovered through police crackdowns, according to the farm’s security manager Patrick Masinde and Kiambu County police commander Perminus Kioi.
According to Masinde the recovery included nine sheep traced to a private home in Juja, Kiambu County, and which were positively identified through special marks on their ears.
“We are happy so far. Of the estimated 1,500 that were stolen, we have recovered 101 and are optimistic that the numbers will keep going up,” said Masinde.
Kioi said police officers went to the private home in Juja following a tipoff from members of the public. Investigations revealed that the home belongs to a realtor living abroad.
“We were called anonymously and after we arrived at the homestead, we found the animals feasting on green grass. We called the farm managers and once they arrived, they said the animals belonged to them,” he said.
“We are after the people who have been attending to these animals. They escaped but we know them and are after them. The owner will also be contacted. This is a global village – we have every means to have him respond to this find in his home.”
Some 18 sheep were returned to the farm by unknown people in unmarked cars on April 13 while five others were found abandoned at Dandora police station.
Masinde said the sheep looked emaciated due to poor husbandry “since these are no traditional breeds that feed anyhow”.
“If all those holding onto our stock want to deliver them back, we assure we will not press charges against them since our interest is only having what is rightfully ours back in our possession,” Masinde said.
The expansive farm owned by the family of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta was invaded by a gang of over 100 goons armed with power saws, machetes, and axes.
The raiders overpowered private guards at the ranch and went on to cut down trees, steal sheep and demarcate the land to allocate themselves plots, with some even building temporary structures. The raiders also torched part of the farm.
Area police did not respond to calls from the security managers and only showed up 24 hours later to assess the damage.
The raid followed public utterances by some Kenya Kwanza politicians, who threatened to invade Kenyatta properties over claims that the former president was sponsoring anti-government protests organized by the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition.
