Herders in Voi are counting heavy losses after seven camels were brutally attacked and killed inside their shed at Sagala Ranch in Maungu, Voi Constituency, over the past six months, raising serious concerns over rising insecurity in the area.
According to the herders, despite reporting the incidents to the Maungu Police Post and repeated appeals from local community leaders, investigations have been slow and unproductive.
Hassan Ibrahim, one of the herders, recounted the horrifying details, describing how one camel had its leg amputated before its neck was slashed. The animal died after being chased from its enclosure.
Each camel, he said, was valued at approximately Ksh 200,000, bringing the total loss to about Ksh 1.4 million. The attacks occurred within Sagala Ranch, where the herders have legal lease agreements with the ranch management.
“We depend on these animals. Camels are our main source of livelihood, just as other communities value land. When they are killed, it is a huge loss for us. We are demanding justice and protection as Kenyan citizens,” said Idris Mohamed.
Hassan Ibrahim also expressed frustration at being ignored by local authorities, despite possessing valid Kenyan identification documents. He called on national security agencies to urgently intervene and address the growing insecurity.
“We are also Kenyans like everyone else. We were born here. We have national IDs, legal lease agreements, and we pay fees and taxes to the county. Yet our pleas continue to be neglected,” he said.
The recent camel killings have revived memories of a 2019 incident in which about 20 camels were slaughtered and two people were killed in a violent conflict between Somali herders and local residents over pastureland.
Herders say such incidents highlight weak legal redress mechanisms and growing inter-community mistrust. The continued slaughter of camels despite formal grazing agreements points to serious governance failures.
Meanwhile, the County Government of Taita Taveta, through its Department of Livestock and the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA), in collaboration with the national government, is working on regulations to control the movement, capacity, and disease management of livestock within and across county borders.
Currently, police in Taita Taveta are holding one suspect in connection with the killings. However, herders have issued an ultimatum to security agencies, demanding the swift arrest and prosecution of all those responsible.
