Quack veterinary doctors arrested in Thika

Police in Thika East arrested two quack veterinary doctors who were vaccinating cows and goats in Gatuanyaga village.

They were found with fake identification cards, old thermometer, injectable animal drugs, needles, syringes and 2 Kg of Norlick superlik salt.

The two, Esther Wambui Nzioka alias Esther Nzioka Syekoyo  39, and Joel Mwangi Karanja alias Naftali Murage Wahome 29, were nabbed as they tried to vaccinate cows and goats at the home of Kamau Kuru.

They claimed they had been dispatched at the area by the government following a disease outbreak on domestic animals.

Kamau’s daughter, a veterinary officer became suspicious after she saw how the two were dressed and the things they carried.

She told her father to call the police.

Led by Thika East Deputy Administration Police Commandant (DAPC) Mumina Yusuf, the officers arrested the two who were taken to Ngoliba Police Station awaiting to be charged.

Residents who fell victims of the two, said they parted with Ksh.1,000 for vaccination of their sick goats which eventually died.

One suspect, Esther Wambui defended herself saying  the goat she vaccinated was so feeble and was almost dying even before she treated it.

According to her, the owner told her that it had been treated by many veterinary officers but it was all in vain.

She is said to have been posing as a veterinary doctor for over 3 years.

Salome Wanjira said they fell into the trap following an earlier announcement in churches that veterinary officers would come to Gatuanyaga cattle dip to treat their animals following an outbreak.

The quacks, however came a day earlier claiming to have been sent from Kabete to kickstart the vaccination. This was before the expected date.

Thika East OCPD, Julius Kyumbule cautioned the area residents to take prior precautions.

He suspected the quarks were spies who rather than treating the cows had another interior motive.

He said this was happening in the wake of stock theft in the area at night.