Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe in Mombasa yesterday. [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
Tanzania had the right to auction the Kenyan cows that 'trespassed' into their territory, Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe has said.
This is after Dar es Salaam authorities auctioned 1,300 cows that belonged to Maasai pastoralists from Kenya after they failed to raise a fine for illegally grazing in Tanzania.
Also, some 6,400 chicks from Kenya were burnt by Tanzanian authorities on suspicion that they could spread bird-flu in the country.
"We wish they could have handled the situation in a better way. But it doesn’t affect our relationship with Tanzanians. The country was strictly within its right to act in that manner," Kiraithe said.
On his part, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said all cows that graze into his country will be met with the same fate.