Residents of Igegania village in Gatundu North, Kiambu County, are living in fear following a surge in livestock theft that has left many families counting heavy losses.
The residents say the theft mostly occur at night while families are fast asleep, with victims only discovering the losses at dawn.
The unusual pattern of the incidents has sparked suspicion among locals, some of whom now fear that the criminals could be using sedatives to render households unaware as the thefts take place.
The latest incident has hit the home of Ann Njeri, a widow who depends on dairy farming to support her children and pay their school fees.
Unknown attackers reportedly broke into her compound at night and brutally stabbed her goats, leaving them fatally injured. By morning, the animals had bled to death, cutting off a key source of income for the struggling family.
The incident has heightened tension in the village, where residents say livestock keeping remains a major economic activity and the repeated attacks are threatening livelihoods.
The locals are now demanding urgent intervention from the government. They want security agencies to intensify night patrols and crack down on the criminals behind the thefts.
They have also called for better facilitation of Nyumba Kumi officials, arguing that the community policing teams play a critical role in protecting villages but often work without adequate support.
