Tricks Goons Invading Uhuru's Northlands Farm Used In Returning Ksh900K Sheep

Northlands City farm security manager, Patrick Masinde, on Thursday, April 13 revealed that the farm recovered 18 Dorper sheep stolen from the property which was invaded by more than a thousand goons on March 27, 2023.

During the raid, over 1,400 Dorper sheep were stolen and carried away by the intruders on their shoulders, who seized the opportunity to make quick cash by selling them for as little as Ksh1,000 to passersby.

Weeks after the ordeal, some of the intruders arrived at the farm belonging to the family of former President Uhuru Kenyatta with the animals, intent on returning them.

Masinde noted that the goons, some believed to be aides of two Nairobi politicians, used cars to drop off the sheep at strategic points near the farm's fence along the Eastern by-pass.

To avoid being spotted and arrested, the goons returned the sheep before reportedly speeding off immediately after dropping off the animals.

Reports stated that some goons had dropped off the sheep at their own volition at the gate of police stations near the farm, with 18 sheep worth Ksh900,000 since returned.

Masinde added that police called the representatives from the Kenyatta family farm to identify the sheep through special marks, after five sheep were dropped off near Dandora Police Station on Wednesday, April 12.

However, the sheep recovered were in bad shape, with the security manager noting that they could have gone days without food.

"We are optimistic about the process so far, we have since recovered 18 sheep. Since these are not traditional breeds that feed anyhow,” Masinde stated.

He revealed that the sheep have a special diet that those who looted them could not be aware of hence the difficulty in maintaining them.

He called upon those who had the remaining sheep to return them to the farm so that they can be attended to, adding that they are seeking a peaceful resolution to recover the 1,400 Dorper sheep.

The sheep are valued at approximately Ksh50,000 depending on the breed, with 1,400 of them bringing the total value to Ksh70 million. Dorper Rams are considerably more expensive than the Ewes.

The Dorper is a hardy South African composite breed, it is a cross between the Black-headed Persian ewes and the Dorset Horn rams. Interestingly, the name comes from the combination of the syllables from the parent breeds- Dorset and Persian.

According to farmers, they require little input and yield high returns. Also, the sheep are hardy and adapt quickly to the environment, and are non-selective grazers as well as ideal for mutton production resulting in high exports due to the low-fat scores.

Importantly, Dorper sheep are known for gaining weight at an impressive rate with some weighing 36 kilograms by the time they are four months old.

A herd of Dorper sheep. /RAISINGSHEEP.NET