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Residents of Mukavakava village, Malava constituency, Kakamega County woke up to a rude shock to find a cow's private parts and tail cut off by unknown people who disappeared with the body parts.
Peris Luvaka, the owner of the cow worth Sh70,000, said she woke up as usual but shockingly her cow was lying on the floor of the cow shed in a manner suggesting that something was wrong.
She said when she got closer, she was shocked to see blood on the floor, the tail was missing and the private parts of the cow had been chopped off and the cow was dead.
"I woke up at 4:10am to go and milk the cow but on entering the cow shed, I was shocked to see my cow was lying helplessly on the floor in a pool of blood. I was surprised and after thorough check-up, I noticed that some parts like the tail and private parts were missing," said Luvaka.
She also saw animal intestines being adjusted to the entrance of the cowshed.
"It was worrying to see the intestines removed and strategically placed at the entrance of the cowshed and I wondered whether it was deliberate or they forgot to take the body parts," said Luvaka.
Huge loss
Lukava said she has incurred a huge loss since the cow was her only source of income.
However, elders and locals led by James Chiveria said they were going to conduct a ritual burial for the cow to punish those who committed the act. They said the perpetrators would be haunted by the cow's spirit to serve as an example to those intending to do such an acts.
"We are going to bury the cow in a traditional way and perform rituals and this will be in line with our traditions that prohibit members of Luhya community from doing such things, especially to domestic animals and birds that we benefit from either by getting milk, meat or eggs. This is a bad omen that might bring hunger to the community and we must stop it," he said.
The elders said the act was a sign of witchcraft and jealousy aimed at preventing the family from progressing in life.
Area chief Daniel Matioli confirmed the incident, promising that the culprits would be brought to book.
