A Matatu Sacco in Nakuru has warned owners of roaming livestocks which cause road accidents that they should not let their animals interfere with road users.
Secretary of Bahati Mawanga Sacco Mark Waweru while addressing members of the public during a public forum at Bahati Trading Centre on Wednesday, observed that farmers who let their animals to roam freely without being attended to, were primarily to blame for road accidents involving domestic animals.
Secretary Waweru further observed that the owners of those roaming animals always blame Matatu operators for the accidents and theft of animal remains after accidents, yet the law was clear about unattended to domestic animals involved in road accidents.
“In as much as Matatu operators always try to prevent these accidents, the blame always goes back to them. Owners of roaming animals should be informed about the law and stop promoting road accidents involving their livestock,’’ said Waweru adding that many Matatu operators and passengers have in the past got injured or lost their lives while vehicles got damaged following such accidents.
According to the Waweru, the Nakuru County Government, the Ministry of Livestock Development and the National Roads Safety Authority (NRSA) should sensitise livestock farmers about road accidents involving domestic animals.
He noted that during such accidents members of the public scramble for meat from dead or injured animals while Matatu operators always find it difficult to locate owners of the animals.