Members of a self-help group from Kirinyaga were on Wednesday shocked to learn that a bull they planned to slaughter for Christmas celebrations was stolen amid heightened livestock theft in the county.
Ngiriambu self-help group slaughters a cow as a way of celebrating Christmas every year.
This year, the 43 members were contributing Sh200 every month and the bull was bought for Sh50,000 awaiting the celebrations.
But the group was left high and dry after thieves made away with the bull with members believing a carcass found along Kianyaga Kiamutugu road was of their cow.
Chairperson Michael Mwaniki said the bull was stolen four days after he bought it and the group lost hope of continuing with its Christmas tradition.
But Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has come to their rescue by donating a bull.
Mwaniki expressed profound gratitude for Governor Waiguru's gesture, emphasizing the immense relief it has brought to their families.
“For over 10 years, we have been observing this tradition and sharing it amongst our families as a way of fostering unity within the group. The theft disheartened us."
But the group has been reprieved after Governor Anne Waiguru donated Sh50,000 to help the group buy another bull and engage in the festivities as per its traditions.
County Director for Gender and Youth Doreen Nyaguthii who presented the money on behalf of the governor said Waiguru was touched by their plight and especially the saving culture that had helped families maintain a decade-long Christmas tradition of sharing together.
Nyaguthii said the gesture was meant to encourage members and others to embrace the cooperative movement to benefit from the government’s social economic empowerment programmes.
She said through the Wezesha Kirinyaga program, the county’s version of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, the county has supported more than 50,000 households that are members of various agriculture value chain groups.
Mwaniki on his part lauded the governor for the donation saying it had restored members’ hope.
“We now feel rejuvenated after getting this gracious gesture. Our members and their families are now looking forward to celebrating together,” he said.
There has been a surge in livestock theft in Kirinyaga with Governor Waiguru asking police to intensify security to stop the incidences and bring the culprits to book.
