A wave of poultry thefts has left residents of London, Ngata, and Teachers areas in Nakuru County on edge, with some now resorting to sleeping with their chickens inside their homes in a desperate bid to protect them from night-time thieves.
Locals say the once-promising venture of small-scale poultry farming has turned into a nightmare as well-organized thieves continue to raid homesteads. One resident from London area shared her frustration with Wananchi Reporting, saying her poultry business was growing steadily until nearly all her birds were stolen.
“I was terrified last Friday when I woke up to find that all but three of my chickens had been stolen,” she said.
In Teachers area, another victim named Faith woke up to discover 12 of her hens had vanished overnight. In the nearby Ngata area, Joy, a poultry keeper, lost all 30 of her chickens while she was away running errands in town.
“It’s as if there are spies among us,” said another concerned resident. “They know exactly when someone is away from home.”
In response to the thefts, many residents are now keeping chickens under beds, chairs, and tables inside their homes at night. Some have even abandoned poultry keeping altogether, selling off their flocks or moving out of their homes due to repeated losses.
The community is now calling on the Nakuru County government and local security agencies to intensify police patrols and bring the culprits to justice.
“This is not just about chickens, it’s about our livelihoods,” said one resident. “We need help before things get worse.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
