Police in Kiambu County have made a shocking discovery, uncovering an illicit slaughter operation involving donkeys, whose meat was being passed off as beef in city butcheries and meat joints.
This revelation follows a midnight raid conducted in the Kiahiti village of Gatune sub-location.
Acting on intelligence gathered by officers stationed at the Nachu police post, the law enforcement team swooped in just in time to thwart the efforts of unscrupulous meat vendors who were in the process of slaughtering the donkeys.
Residents of Kiahiti had lodged multiple complaints about their sleep being disrupted by the distinct and disturbing onomatopoeic sounds of distressed donkeys reverberating through the village.
These eerie sounds foreshadowed the grim fate that awaited these animals.
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Upon arrival, the officers were confronted with a grim sight.
The scene was strewn with the carcasses of more than seven freshly slaughtered donkeys.
It became evident that the vendors possessed a high level of expertise in extracting boneless meat from the animals' bodies, intending to deceive consumers into believing it was premium beef, including fillet and other sought-after cuts.
The audacity of this operation extended beyond the meat alone.
The traders methodically collected and packaged the donkey intestines, kidneys, and other internal organs for sale.
These offal parts, with an appearance closely resembling traditional beef offerings, were destined for local roadside establishments catering to city residents with an appetite for classic delicacies like mutura, supu, and matumbo.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are now intensifying their efforts to track down three suspects who managed to evade capture during the raid.
The authorities remain resolute in their commitment to ensuring that these individuals face justice for their involvement in this illicit operation, which not only poses a considerable risk to public health but also undermines consumer trust in the integrity of the food supply chain.
This alarming revelation underscores the darker underbelly of the meat industry, where unscrupulous operators exploit consumers' tastes for their own financial gain.
As more details emerge, the public is reminded of the hidden hazards that can exist within the food supply chain, emphasizing the urgency of stringent regulatory measures to guarantee the authenticity and safety of food products.
