Kenyans online have called on local authorities to take action against a Kitengela businesswoman (mama mboga) who stabbed a cow with a kitchen knife for eating her vegetables.
In photos making rounds on social media, the cow is seen grazing in Kitengela town with the knife stuck in its head.
A Facebook user Barasa Enock explained that the woman stabbed the cow on the nasal ridge when it attempted to eat the “Sukuma wiki” she sells in her greengrocer.
Further reports on social media indicate that the cow was grazing along Nairobi-Namanga road near Quick Mart supermarket before the incident.
However, the owner of the cow is yet to be identified as the incident continues to attract mixed reactions from social media users and Kitengela residents.
Mama Mboga on the spot
A section of Kenyans has asked animal rights activist to take over the case and prosecute the matter.
They argued that animal cruelty is wrong and the mama mboga should be charged in court.
“She should be taken to the book for being cruel to animal under animal act laws of Kenya and also the owner of the cow should be jailed for allowing the cow to stray in town,” said Roma Mkatoliki.
Additionally, other users explained that such cows are harmless adding that the woman should have applied self-control while handling the cow.
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“So, between the woman and the animal who has sense,” asked Wamugi Jnr.
On the other hand, Roberto Curl tagged the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animal (KSPCA).
However, other users defended the woman arguing that Kenyans are stressed due to the hard economic times.
“I can’t judge, with this harsh economy anyone can do crazy things for survival,” argued Simeon Charles.
Punishment for animal cruelty
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 has some general provisions which cover animal rights, both domestic and wild animals.
Under Chapter five, part 2 outlines the roles of the two levels of government in promoting animal welfare.
According to the Constitution, the national government is responsible for the protection of wild animals in conservation areas while the county governments are mandated to see the control and welfare of domestic animals.
“Any person guilty of an offence of cruelty shall be liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or to both,” states the Constitution.
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Further, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act provides provisions for the prevention of cruelty to animals; to control experiments on animals and incidental matters.
The Act defines acts and omissions which amount to cruelty and penalties which include cruelly beating, kicking, ill-treating, overriding, over-driving, over-loading, torturing, and infuriating or terrifying any animal.
It criminalized using an animal which is so diseased, injured or in such physical condition that it is unfit to be so used.
Additionally, it outlines punishment for individual who starves, underfeeds, or denies water to an animal; abandons it or exposes it to circumstances likely to cause the animal unnecessary suffering.