Livestock to be fitted with tracking devices in Meru

Cattle herds in Meru County will soon be fitted with tracking devices to deal with cattle rustling in the county.

Speaking in Mikinduri, Tigania East MP Josphat Gishunge said the procurement process is underway and the gadgets will be fitted on herds of animals starting next year.

“The 19th century problems should not continue haunting our people. We will deploy the GPRS system because cattle rustling and banditry need to be stopped,” said Mr. Gishunge.

The self-proclaimed digital MP said the pilot project will be launched in Tigania East where all livestock will be fitted with GPRS systems in order to track them.

While acknowledging that it will be expensive to fit all heads of cattle with the trackers, the MP said that: “In a herd of like 500 cows we can have like 50 of the healthiest and strongest cows fitted with the system.”

This comes as a great relief to herders in the county who have lost hundreds of their livestock to cattle rustlers from within the county and the neighbouring counties.

Isiolo Police Commander Charles Onita has however issued a stern warning sating that bandits will face the full force of the law.