Government has declared nationwide crackdown on illicit livestock trade

Interior PS Dr Raymond Omolllo with his counter part from State Department of Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke led a high level-multi agency security workshop focusing on enforcing livestock sector regulations to enhance good safety and national safety.

Speaking at the Kenya School of Government Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo said there has been an increase in livestock theft, unregulated trade in animal products, and contamination of food products that have affected eateries and resulted in fatalities in the country.

“We are also witnessing a worrying pattern of livestock thefts particularly in Rift Valley, Eastern and Central regions and meat seized while being transported to Nairobi and other regions.This theft is linked with the emergence of bandits and cattle rustlers selling meat to unscrupulous traders and transnational criminal gangs who are smuggling and trafficking animal products such as skins across borders linked with other illicit wildlife trade,” he said.

In response to these threats, a 100-day Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) has been launched aimed at enforcing existing rules and regulations in the livestock sector.

All County Commissioners are directed to form multi-agency teams, composed of the Police, DCI, NIS, NGAOs, County Public Health Services, Veterinary Services, and co-opt other relevant regulatory agencies with specific terms of reference to enforce the same.

Multi-agency teams are also tasked to identify hotspots for illegal slaughter of all livestock and to arrest culprits while dismantling all the criminal syndicates involved.

“Suspicion of consumption of donkey meat has raised concerns about the origin of these animals despite the government having banned donkey slaughter in 2020 and rendering designated abattoirs non-operational,” PS Omollo added

Livestock Development PS Jonathan Mueke said animal products pose food safety hazards if not properly handled.

“It is imperative that we adhere to food safety standards and health practices from production to consumption. We have seen a gap in enforcement of livestock sector rules and regulations and have come up with this initiative that will target animal product facilities as well as our transport highways.” said Mueke

PS Mueke called on the multi-agency to effectively play their role to develop a robust whole of government coordination approach for effective enforcement and appreciated the essential leadership provided by Regional Commissioners and County Commissioners.

In present were the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, Director Public Health, Dr. Maureen
Kamene, Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, Police Commanders, and stakeholders in the livestock industry