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Residents of Marura village in Maragua Murang’a have been left in utter shock after 30 heads and other donkey parts were found in one of the homesteads.

The discovery was made as the residents were trying to help push a car which had gotten stuck in the mud while leaving the homestead. The meat is said to have been destined for Kayole, Nairobi.

The car was fully packed with the meat which the residents demanded to know the source and after confronting the driver, he directed them to the place where the donkeys had been slaughtered.

According to the residents they have never suspected any fishy activity taking place and this came as a surprise for them.

Peter Mwangi, one of the residents, said this area has no donkeys, adding that the culprits sourced them from elsewhere and slaughtered them here.

“These people seem to have perfected their skill in slaughtering the donkeys and we now suspect they have been doing it for some time,” Mwangi said.

“Our biggest worry is that we might have consumed the meat after it is supplied to the local butcheries,” he added.

Mary Wanjiku, another resident, urged police and public health officers to be more vigilant in arresting such cases, stressing that it exposes unsuspecting consumers to health hazards because the meat could be contaminated.

According to Maragua sub-county assistant county commissioner Gitonga Murungi, the driver of the vehicle is in police custody but other people who were in his company managed to escape.

Murungi said the suspect would help the police officers in digging deeper into the matter, pointing out that there could be more people involved in this illegal activity.

“After interrogating the driver, he confessed to us that he was only involved in ferrying the meat. Nine other people managed to escape but we are pursuing them and once arrested they will be arraigned in court,” Murungi said.

He thanked the members of the public for acting swiftly and reporting the matter to the police leading to the arrest of the suspect.