Residents of Thiba North Village in Mwea West Sub-County, Kirinyaga County, woke up to a disturbing scene on Wednesday morning.

The carcasses of four stolen donkeys were discovered near Thiba Catholic Church, raising suspicions of a plot to sell the meat to unsuspecting locals.

The discovery followed a trail left by a very suspicious vehicle, which locals tracked to the Thiba church grounds.

Upon there arrival, the locals found individuals in the act of slaughtering the animals reported missing earlier.

Startled by the residents’ alarm, the suspects abandoned the scene and fled before they could be apprehended.

“My donkey was among the four. When villagers raised the alarm, the gang of young men escaped, leaving behind the meat they had already slaughtered,” said Bernard Maina, a distressed resident.

Residents immediately notified local authorities, who arrived at the scene to investigate. Mary Wambui Muthee, a county official spearheading the fight against animal abuse in Kirinyaga, expressed deep concern over the growing trend of donkey theft in the region.

Arising cases

“Many youths in Mwea rely on donkeys to transport rice and fetch water. These thefts have left them jobless, worsening the situation for families depending on this income,” Wambui lamented.

The problem seems to be escalating. “Just yesterday, two donkeys were stolen and slaughtered. The suspects escaped with the meat in a Probox vehicle at Ngurubani town,” another resident reported.

Veterinary officers who arrived at the site inspected the carcasses and later burned them to prevent any attempt to sell the meat.

The incident has left the community on edge, with calls for heightened security measures to protect livelihoods and deter further cases of donkey theft and slaughter.

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