The Africa Veterinary Technicians Association (AVTA) has urged Samburu County to strengthen the independence of the veterinary department as a long-term measure of ending the cattle rustling menace.
While speaking to KNA, AVTA President Benson Ameda said that the devolved function that controls the movement of animals and animal products has collapsed because county governments are not effectively monitoring the movement of animals and livestock products. "Today, the easiest thing to steal is livestock because of the existence of unlicensed slaughterhouses, unlicensed butcheries, fake meat stamps and unlicensed meat carriers, all because the veterinary department lacks the capacity and political goodwill to crack down on unscrupulous meat dealers," he said.
Ameda emphasised that in order to curb cattle rustling that results to death and destruction of property, all veterinarians and meat inspectors in slaughterhouses should be well trained and inducted to make independent decisions to disallow the slaughter of stolen animals without being victimised.
The Association's President also noted that it was easy for veterinarians to spot stolen animals in the slaughterhouse and fake animal movement permits, but when they revoke them, they are transferred and even threatened by the leadership of the counties, eventually making them cooperate unwillingly. "It is AVTA's stand that if animals are illegally slaughtered in a certain area, the County Director of Veterinary Services and the meat inspectors are held responsible.
