Kiambu County police have arrested two suspects who were allegedly found slaughtering donkeys at Rwasumali Village in Ndeiya, Limuru Constituency. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) identified the suspects as Patrick Muiruri and Elizabeth Wangeci.
The donkey meat ends up being sold in butchers’ shops in Nairobi and its nearby counties, according to the DCI. However, an investigation into the exact destinations for the meat is underway.
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Who are Patrick Muiruri and Elizabeth Wangeci?
The suspects, Patrick Muiruri and Elizabeth Wangeci were arrested and taken to Ndeiya Police Station. Patrick Muiruri is 29 years old, while Wangeci is 31 years old. Over 30 carcasses of slaughtered donkeys were discovered at the scene in Rwasumali Village, the police said.
Additionally, two vehicles suspected of transporting the meat were impounded. At an open field in the Limuru village, several donkey bones were found strewn all over the place.
“After slaughtering the animals, the unscrupulous traders extract boneless meat from the animal’s carcass which is sold to meat lovers in the city, disguised as beef fillet and other boneless chops,” said the DCI on Twitter.
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“No flesh is left to waste as the traders also package the donkey intestines, kidneys, and other internal organs, which are sold to outlets dealing in popular roadside delicacy mutura, supu, and matumbo,” the statement added.
According to police, they were receiving several complaints from the residents of Limuru that their donkeys has been stolen in high numbers. The Government of Kenya banned the slaughter and sale of donkey meat in 2020, citing increased cases of donkey theft in the country.
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Official government data showed that the donkey population had decreased from 1.8 million in 2009 to 1.17 million in 2019.
The High Court lifted the ban on donkey slaughtering in May 2021, saying the State has failed to argue its case on why the ban should be upheld.
“The government has failed to sufficiently defend this case and this court quashes the Legal Notice 63 of 2020 as it violates the rights of Star Brilliant,” said Justice Richard Mwongo in his May 2021 ruling.
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Donkey hides are majorly exported to the Asian market, where it is used in the manufacture of Chinese medicine. Kenya has four donkey abattoirs spread across four countries.
