As Nakuru city slowly conforms to the norms of a city, some residents have continued to speculate on whether some aspects will have to change.

Urban farming, especially livestock keeping within the city is something that many locals quietly wonder whether it will be banned or not.

It should be recalled that livestock keeping within Nakuru’s urban areas draws back to the 1990s.

Read: The first farmers of Nakuru County

Some of the residents in Naka estate have kept cattle in sophisticated dairy sheds.

Photo credit: COURTESY

In posh estates such as Naka, locals have always come across livestock being herded back to their owners especially in the evening.

In fact, one of the locals supplies milk to the residents from what seems like a sophisticated dairy shed.

According to Naka Residents Association Chairman Mr. Raymond Cheruiyot, some few retired civil servants and other senior government officials are rearing animals.

Retired KDF officer Raymond Cheruiyot

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI| NMG

“If one is keen, you will spot pickups and lorries carrying animal feeds as they enter the estate,” he says.

In Greenview estate or lower Section 58 as locals call it, you will spot animals roaming around.

Mr. Amadi Kahero from Machanga estate on the outskirts of Nakuru city, says that the livestock always graze around freely adding that some of the cattle can be found on the roads at night.

Also Read: What it takes to successfully manage the vast Delamere farm

"We have been keeping animals here for many years even during the defunct Municipal Council of Nakuru," says Amadi.

The script is the same for residents of Nakuru West's Kaptembwa and Pondamali where cow dung can be found on the immaculately tarmacked roads.

Residents argue that getting feeds for their animals is a tall order, which is why the animals graze in any open fields around.

But even as animals, especially cattle continue to share estates with residents in the city, what does the law require of them?

Read: Menengai East MCA wants Urban Agriculture Act implemented

We spoke to MCA Wilson Mwangi of Menengai East Ward.

MCA Menengai East Wilson Mwangi during an interview on March 2, 2023

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/ Mtaa Wangu

The MCA who was vocal on the passage of Nakuru County Urban Agriculture Bill 2022, says there are requirements for livestock keeping within the city among them ensuring the animals are enclosed in an area.

He adds that the law also requires that such farmers maintain high levels of hygiene to avert diseases and also work closely with the county’s department of Agriculture towards the welfare of their animals.

"The urban farming law is in place as far as Nakuru County is concerned and all those involved in urban farming and livestock keeping must familiarize themselves with the same," says Mwangi.

Statistics from the County Government of Nakuru as at 2019 show that Nakuru was ranked as the third county in milk production across the country with about 381,600 dairy cattle, with milk production valued at Ksh 9.8 billion and around 300 million litres in production.

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Pristone Mambili