The Nairobi County Government has proposed that each cat in Nairobi will be subjected to licensing and cat owners will be required to pay Kshs 200 to obtain the licence for the felines.
This is a proposal in the Nairobi City County Animal Control and Welfare Bill 2024 aiming to create a harmonious coexistence between animals and residents by addressing animal care and welfare.
The bill additionally proposes that the cat ownership license be renewed yearly and the pet custodian make sure that all cats are up-to-date with rabies vaccinations and are kept in suitable conditions that boost their well-being.
The licensing will be a straightforward process, with owners needing to provide proof of vaccination and pay a nominal fee.
The county government has embarked on the initiative aiming to monitor and manage the cat population in Nairobi, that has increased ten fold resulting in stray and abandoned cats.
Beside licensing, the bill has also detailed strict parameters for cat shelters, and they will be subject to inspection by county officials to ensure that they are of standard for the felines.
The regulations stipulate that shelters must provide adequate space, ventilation, and hygiene to ensure the health and comfort of the cats.
The cat owner should expect regular inspection of the shelter by designated animal control officers, to ensure compliance with the regulations provided in the bill should it take effct into law. Officers will be mandated to take corrective action in cases of non-compliance.
For stray cats, the animal control officers will be empowered to capture and manage them, to aid in their rehabilitation.
Captured cats will be checked for licenses and vaccinations, and efforts will be made to reunite them with their owners or find them new homes if they are unclaimed.
To guarantee compliance with the new regulations, the bill includes stringent enforcement measures.
Animal control officers will issue fines and penalties to owners who fail to comply with the licensing and care standards. The fine for the first offense is Kshs 10,000. Repeat offenders will be liable to paying higher fines amounting to Kshs 50,000 for each count or an imprisonment of six months for the first offence and nine months for repeated offenses.
The bill also included other regulations for the care of the wellbeing of livestock, poultry and fish in the county.
Nairobi residents are encouraged to take part in public participation on August 2 before the bill is assented into law by Governor Sakaja.
