Detectives Wednesday arrested two suspects who were found slaughtering donkeys at a thicket in Ndeiya, Kiambu County, and recovered over 30 fresh carcasses of the animal.
The raid followed numerous complaints by residents in Limuru and its environs on the disappearance of donkeys which detectives have since established to find their way to the dinner tables of hapless city residents.
Residents had complained dozens of their animals were missing for weeks.
This prompted police to launch a probe and within two days Patrick Muiruri, 29, and Elizabeth Wangeci, 32, were arrested and two vehicles used in the transportation of the flesh in gunny bags were impounded.
They told police they have been doing the business for a long and the main market was in Nairobi.
This means many of the city residents have been consuming donkey meat which was not inspected as per the law.
The arrests followed a raid at the scene of the slaughter located at an open field within a thicket in Rwasumali village, where the beast of burden is slaughtered before finding its way to butcheries and meat spots in the city.
Informers had leaked to police the operations of the gang targeting donkeys.
After slaughtering the animals, the unscrupulous traders extract boneless meat from the animal’s carcass which is sold to meat lovers in the city exorbitantly, disguised as beef fillets and other boneless chops.
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 two suspects were expected in court.
Police said they are looking for more suspects in the illegal business.
