A farmer this evening lost 13 cows after a trailer ploughed into his cattle in the Primarosa area of Athi-river, Machakos County.
The trailer was heading towards Nairobi along the Mombasa road when it hit a herd of 18 cattle leaving 13 dead with five others sustaining serious injuries.
It is said other motorists had stopped to wait for the cattle to cross before the trailer driver who was overlapping rammed into the cattle.
Confirming the incident, Athi-river sub-county police commander Mary Njoki said the driver of the trailer is hospitalized under police watch.
"It is unfortunate that a farmer has lost 13 cows in an accident. Fortunately, the farmer who was overseeing the animals crossing the road escaped death by a whisker. The driver of the trailer sustained head and hand injuries. He was rushed to hospital and he is in a stable condition. We have gathered counts of witnesses who were along the road during the incident and clearly, the driver was rogue since all other motorists had stopped to allow the animals to cross," Njoki confirmed.
The cattle were heading to Sholinke village, Kajiado East Sub-county from Yatta, Machakos.
William Kasio, the cattle owner, had moved to Yatta in search of pasture during the prolonged drought that adversely affected pastoralists in Kajiado with tens of cattle succumbing to hunger.
"Out of the 200 cattle I had, these were the only animals that remained after the long drought. I am devastated. This is the only source of eking livelihood that I have. I have been reduced to abject poverty. I just call on relevant authorities to pursue the case to have me compensated," Kasio appealed.
The trailer has since been towed to Athi-river police station.
