Police officers in Saboti, Trans Nzoia County are looking for a suspected thief who lost his right-hand fingers when armed residents confronted him stealing maize in the company of six other people.
Peter Wanjala, the owner of the maize farm said they were alarmed by barking dogs forcing them to wake up and go to the farm where they found seven youths who had already harvested maize and were ready to leave with their harvest.
“Some minutes past 3:00 am, we were woken up by barking dogs. When we entered the farm, there were seven people who were armed and had harvested maize ready to leave. We confronted them and we overpowered them. Later when our chief and security officers visited the scene, we discovered the three fingers,” Wanjala said.
Saboti location chief, Protus Wechuli confirmed the incident saying it has not been established whose fingers were found in the wee hours on Tuesday morning.
“I received a distress call from one farmer who reported that seven people were stealing maize from his farm. I mobilized police officers and responded. When we arrived at the scene, we found three fingers” Wechuli said.
The administrator called on members of the public to report any suspect seen pocketing his right hand.
“While we ask members of the public to volunteer any information they know, we are also asking all health facilities in Trans Nzoia to be on the lookout for any patient who presents himself without three fingers” Wechuli appealed.
Maize farmers in the area linked the rise in the stealing of maize to lucrative maize prices and asked security apparatus to do more night patrols in the area.
“Currently, a two kg tin of maize retails between 90 and 110 shillings. This is encouraging lazy young people to venture into stealing without minding the repercussions” Wanjala said.
