Nairobi herders took grazing cows off roads during election period

The election period in Nairobi and major towns typically promises unpredictable reactions from supporters.

For this reason, businesses in the city centre and estates close until normalcy returns to avoid any losses in case of protests.

This fear has also gripped the herders who usually leave their animals to roam in the estates all the way to the markets around the City centre in search of pastures.

For more than a week now, Maasai herders also drove their cattle away from the estates and roads fearing the animals could land in the wrong hands.

"The animals are no longer left to roam around like before, it is worse during the elections period, that is why they were herded off," Lucas Kirkoya, one of the herders told The Nairobian.

According to the herders, they usually leave the animal to roam alone or with trained dogs in tow since they are also involved in other businesses like selling herbal medicine and honey throughout the day.

The animals were driven to an open field between Likoni road and Donholmn area under the close watch of the herders.

On normal days the animals roam all the way to Outering Road causing traffic snarl-ups and sometimes spend the night beside the road and under footbridges.

Other areas where the animals roam freely include Jogoo road, Imara Daima, Muthurwa, Makongeni, Langata cemetery and sections of Ngong road.

In July 2022, five people were arrested in Jericho estate after they were found slaughtering a cow. The suspect confessed that the slaughtered the cow because he was hungry.

Nairobi traffic police boss said the animals were causing obstruction but police are unable to trace their owners.