A long-running feud between two women over the ownership of two Friesian cows has suffered a fresh twist after one of the animals died, making negotiations almost impossible.
Since August 2020, Ann Cherotich and Gloria Kandie have been locked in a legal tussle over who truly owns the cows, named Ruma and Lelgina. The case made headlines when the animals were subjected to a rare DNA test in a bid to settle the matter.
Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion had, in June, granted the women 30 days to try and resolve the dispute amicably. He directed that should talks fail, the case would proceed to a defence hearing scheduled for July 23, 2025.
But when the matter came up again, the court was informed that negotiations had stalled following the death of Lelgina.
Kandie, who still has Ruma in her possession, told the court that Lelgina died after giving birth to one calf, although she could not recall the exact date. She added that Ruma, now aged 13, is still alive and has given birth to two calves.
"Ruma produces 10 litres of milk per day," Kandie testified.
Cherotich, however, argued that it was impossible to resolve the case outside court since she had not seen her cows since 2015, when they were allegedly stolen. She said Lelgina's death had complicated negotiations further and insisted that only a full hearing would deliver justice.
She wants the case to proceed, arguing that if the court rules in her favour, she should be compensated for her loss.
According to Cherotich, her two Friesians were stolen in August 2015, prompting her to make a report at Ngata Police Station under OB Number 4/27/8/2015. She told the court that in 2020, she unexpectedly came across two cows at Kandie's compound that bore a striking resemblance to her missing animals.
"The cows recognised me and even approached me. I believed they were mine and I made a report," she said.
Police, however, failed to settle the matter through physical examination, forcing the animals to undergo DNA analysis.
Peter Ngugi, the Sub-County Veterinary Officer in Rongai, said the test involved checking the cows' dentition, tail switch, and body markings to determine their age and ownership.
A report dated August 28, 2020, concluded that the cows belonged to Cherotich, stating that her descriptions matched the DNA results.
"Cherotich proved beyond a reasonable doubt that she was the owner of the cows," read the report.
But Kandie disputed the findings. She told the court she bought Ruma and Lelgina from two different sellers for a combined Sh215,000.
"I bought Ruma from Paul Majanga for Sh100,000 on October 5, 2018, and Lelgina from David Mugaka for Sh115,000 on August 1, 2019," she said.
Kandie accused Cherotich of trespassing into her grazing fields on August 10, 2020, where she allegedly laid claim to the cows. She further argued that the DNA test was flawed because her own descriptions of the animals were excluded from the veterinary report.
"The cows' physical appearances were examined in my absence, leading to the erroneous conclusion that they were not mine," Kandie said in her defence.
The dispute, which has stretched on for years and now involves three calves in addition to Ruma, will be mentioned again on August 27.