Kilifi, Kenya: County Government has spent close to Sh4.9 million purchasing cows to donate to locals who lost several cattle after they allegedly drunk poisonous water in Takaungu village in Kilifi.
Several farmers lost 200 cattle in May this year and called on the county government to assist them reconstruct their lives.
Kingi said 36 families that lost their animals in the incident will get at least one cow to restart their cattle farming.
"My administration resolved to purchase 36 cows and give to the 36 families that lost their cattle during the disaster that claimed over 200 cattle so that they can restart their cattle farming' said Kingi.
He said reports from the laboratory test carried out by the government chemists and a private chemist said the cattle died after drinking water and consuming pasture that had poisonous chemicals.
The governor however said the report did not indicate the source of the poisonous chemicals and said it was from that point that the matter had to be investigated further.
He said his administration has written to the Country Director of CID asking him to investigate the incidence and establish the source of the poisonous chemicals that killed the cattle.
"I have asked the county director of CID to start a fresh probe and establish the source of the poisonous chemicals to enable the locals sue for compensation," said Kingi.
The governor further urged affected families to accept a token issued by the management of Mombasa Cement Company. The company had announced a token after the families claimed that their cattle died after grazing in its compound.
But the company has not been linked by any state agency to be behind the death of the cattle and Kingi said that the locals should accept the amount.
"What the management of Mombasa Cement Company was doing was just to give a token of Sh 15,000 to those who lost their cattle and that was not compensation as most of the people would look at it. The token should however not be misinterpreted to mean that company bears any responsibility," said Kingi.
The residents through Human Right Agenda (HURIA) have also petitioned the government to investigate the matter and the truth be made open so that the victims can pursue the matter.
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