Motorists along Kisii-Kilgoris highway have complained over loitering cows and goats, saying they are a threat and likely to cause accidents.
Speaking to this writer on Saturday in Kisii town, they asked the county government to take a step to the owners of the livestock.
“We are afraid that the escalating number of the cows that are loitering along the highway. They have caused deaths in the past and injured so many people. Their dung usually makes the road slippery that poses a great risk when driving,” Erick Ombuya, a driver plying Kisii-Kilgoris route said.
“The county government must take an immediate step to clear these cows from the busy road and have their owners arrested for being irresponsible,” he suggested.
Another motorist who is a town service Bodaboda operator, narrated how he sustained critical injuries after hitting a cow at Mwembe Tayare along the highway, and he has not received compensation to date from the owner of the cow.
“I was coming back town after ferrying a customer at Gekomu. As I approached Mwembe, a cow that was beside the road crossed hurriedly and when I tried to put emergency, the breaks failed and I hit it. I broke my left leg and sustained serious head injuries that am nursing to this moment,” Duke Okemwa, Joshua Okoth narrated.
He added, “I am now a cripple and therefore I cannot provide for my family. We settled the case outside the court and agreed that the owner of the cow was to pay me Sh100,000 for treatment and other expenses an agreement he has not heeded to yet its now six months since the incident occurred.”
Boda Boda operators chairman Mike Mose said he had already presented the complaints to the relevant authority. He hoped they will be addressed to avert accidents.
"I have also complained about the loitering cows and goats in the town. I went to the office of the Minister for Kisii town administration, Peris Onsarigo and promised to act on the problem," said Mose.
He added: "We will stage demos if the government will have not acted in a month time as it pledged."