Petty thieves in the Mt Kenya region could soon find it hard to reap where they did not sow when farmers in the area adopt a Ksh10,000 high-tech alarm system.
The innovation developed by one Davin Munene Gatura seeks to tame rising cases of livestock theft in the area.
"We were thinking of the farmer who has ten goats and can sell one to invest the proceeds in protecting the others," the engineer told KNA.
The low-budget system includes hidden sensors that when triggered alert the farmer of any intruders.
The system also comes as wireless or coded with the variation in sophistication determining the price of the product.
"The system is a response to the outcry of farmers who have been terrorised by thieves who specialise in stealing farm produce," Gatura added.
His business partner Eric Munene Gichovi emphasised that the goal of the product is to serve to small-scale farmers who are the main victims.
"We are trying our best to keep the prices down but some of the farmers may choose options that may cost a little more," Munene remarked.
"The product has been well received, we have gotten positive feedback from customers who have adopted our idea," he added.
From some of the villagers, reportedly the thieves target banana bunches, sugar cane, macadamia nuts, and other farm products.
"They come at night and at times when we go to church. We suspect they spray something to the chicken which makes them sleep, then they stuff them in a sack," lamented Joyce Warue Njagi, a resident.
'I now know peace since I installed the alarm system. Before I used to sleep with one eye open," she added.
