A truck driver is battling for life in hospital after he was attacked by an angry mob shortly after running over 18 cows on the Mombasa highway.
Nairobi News understands that the truck driver, identified as Mr Joseph Mbai, was heading to Nairobi when he overtook other trucks that had slowed down only to run over the cows in Athi-River, Machakos County.
Mr Mbai was then stopped by angry locals who kicked and punched him, injuring his head and legs.
In the accident, 13 cows died on the spot while five others were seriously injured.
In his statement to the media immediately after the incident, Mr Nteneyio Kasio said he had decided to graze his cows in the Yatta area and was returning home when the accident occurred.
When asked if he had taken the necessary precautions before leading the herd of cows across the road, Mr Kasio replied in the affirmative.
“I have 70 cows and there was no way I could have let such a herd cross the road without taking the necessary precautions. I had even asked two men to stand on either side of the road and hold up red pieces of cloth to show that there was an activity going on,” he said.
He said he was only interested in getting justice because he was counting the losses after the incident.
The country has been experiencing a drought that has caused most herders to lose their cows, as the rains have taken a long time to start.
Towards the end of 2022, many pastoralists in Kajiado sought help from the government due to the biting drought as hundreds of cows died.
The worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in 40 years left the cows with nothing to eat.
