Rift Valley; Kenya: Twenty heads of cattle worth more than Sh300,000 were killed after they were struck by lightning at Penon Forest Station in Elgeyo Marakwet County. The cows had been impounded by Community Forest Association members and Kenya Forest Service officers after they were found illegally grazing in the forest.
The herd was among 29 brought to the station as the officers sought the owners so that legal action could be taken against them.
The forest station manager, James Mfwaya noted that at around 6pm, a heavy downpour accompanied by thunder and lightning struck the herd under a tree at the compound. Mr Mfwaya said the matter had been reported to Kaptagat Police Station.
"The community is dependent on the forest but that should not be an excuse for illegal grazing," he said. Residents armed with machetes and knives waited outside the station's gate wanting to slaughter the carcasses for meat following the Thursday evening incident.
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