Gatundu North sub-county farmers have been advised to stop keeping many animals beyond what their lands can sustain.
Michael Gitau, an environmentalist in Gatundu said on Wednesday that keeping many animals that are emaciated due to insufficient pasture does not improve the livelihoods of residents.
He instead advised them to limit their livestock to what their land can sustain.
“Animals should have segregated areas where feeding process takes place, mixing them so much with human beings can result in spread of animal diseases to humans,” he said.
He revealed that residents have only five acres of land with over 300 animals which are made to encroach on other people’s land or natural reserves, an action he said leads to conflicts.
“Residents should work together with security personnel to end cattle rustling in this sub-county,” he said.
“When the youth do not go to school, their preoccupation is raiding neighbours farms for livestock, an action that has put the concerned communities into a viscous cycle of raids and revenge attacks,” he added.
Mwangi urged the county government of Kiambu to set aside funds to cater for expected losses by both animal and crop farmers citing it as the only way to motivate farmers fully exploit from their lands.