Young Kenyan Man Loses over 6,000 Chickens in Suspected Arson Attack

A young farmer in Kiharu, Murang’a County is counting losses amounting to millions of shillings following a suspected case of arson.

Michael Maina lost over 6,000 chickens, five high-grade dairy cows, calves, and goats in the Sunday late-night fire incident.

Maina’s mother Alice Njeri, who has been managing her son’s project, said the fire broke out behind the cow shed where they store hay.

Njeri believes someone deliberately lit the fire which spread very fast and reduced everything including the chicken and cows into ashes.

“We were not able to save even a single animal in the incident because the fire was very fierce,” said Njeri.

A dejected Maina said his mum called him after the fire erupted and it was too late to salvage anything when he arrived.

Maina says the project was a few months old and had borrowed money from youth fund kitty and Equity Bank to establish it.

“I was hoping the project will do well and I would pay back the money and it would also have been the source of livelihood for our family,” said Macharia, who is in his late 20s.

“I owe suppliers who have been giving me animal feeds about Sh600,000 but I don’t know where to get this money to pay them back” he added.

He called for an investigation into the incident to reveal the perpetrators.

Kameme FM presenter Muthee Kiengei is rallying Kenyans of goodwill to help Maina reestablish his business and repay his creditors.

“Why and How did someone decide to put on fire more than 6,000 chickens in Murang’a??? What would really lead someone to cause this mess? I felt pain until now I can feel the pain that I saw on that man’s face. May God Have mercy on us. My Friends Kenchic Kenya Lets do this,” said Kiengei.

Financial help can be sent directly to Maina through MPesa on 0723261896 (Michael Maina Kuru).