Tanzania Continues Seizing, Auctioning Cattle Roaming Capital Without Grazing Permits

  • County by-laws outlaws grazing in the city without a permit.
  • “I have discussed the with the governor and I am waiting for an approval to auction the cows since we don’t know what the diseases they are carrying.
  • In December, Tanzanian authorities auctioned more than 1,300 cattle belonging to Kenyans.
  • “Last week, our officers were attacked by herders in Eastlands after they seized a herd of cattle that were illegally being grazed there,” he said.
  • Makori his officers have been facing a lot of problems,including attacks by herders and threats by influential people who own the animals.

City Hall says some cattle roaming and grazing in the city are from Tanzania and wants to auction them.
“Some come from Kajiado and Narok but we have found that most of them actually come from Tanzania,” Agriculture executive Danvas Makori said told the Star yesterday.

County by-laws outlaws grazing in the city without a permit.

“I have discussed the with the governor and I am waiting for an approval to auction the cows since we don’t know what the diseases they are carrying.

But Makori’s could be retaliation. In December, Tanzanian authorities auctioned more than 1,300 cattle belonging to Kenyans.

“As we speak, there is an outbreak of foot- and mouth disease in Dagoretti and Karen, so we will not relent on this,” Makori added.

In December, the county arrested more than 10 Maasai herders and held more than 500 livestock.

Speaking in his office, Makori said the animals were released after their owners paid fines of Sh5,000 per head.

“This fee is too small and we intend to review it upwards,” he said.

Prolonged drought is why rherders moved to the city to search for water and pasture.

But Makori said the herders came to the city because there is a ready market for their milk.

“They are here because they easily sell their milk to slum-dwellers and in other areas. They are selling unpasteurisd milk, which our laws prohibit,” he said.

Makori his officers have been facing a lot of problems,including attacks by herders and threats by influential people who own the animals.

“Last week, our officers were attacked by herders in Eastlands after they seized a herd of cattle that were illegally being grazed there,” he said.

The crackdown on illegal herding was suspended for a week to seek the services and protection of the police.

TheStar