Wave of donkey slaughters sparks outrage in Kirinyaga

In just three days, at least 10 donkeys have been reported stolen, with their carcasses discovered in Thiba and Ngurubani areas.

The most recent incident, which occurred yesterday, escalated into chaos in Ngurubani town when angry residents stormed Tebere Police Post. 

They demanded access to a suspect who was allegedly linked to the theft and slaughter of four donkeys near local rice mills.

Police officers were forced to intervene as tensions boiled over, with residents throwing stones at the police post and the suspect. 

Tear gas was deployed to disperse the crowd, leading to confusion along the busy Mwea-Embu highway, which was particularly congested due to market day activities.

“We wanted to interrogate the suspect to find out where they sell the stolen donkey meat, but the police intervened and took him away to Wanguru Police Station. We want answers!” said Stephen Wachira, Chairman of the Donkey Owners Association in Ngurubani.

Wachira further claimed that the suspect was part of a group of four individuals involved in stealing and slaughtering donkeys. 

He cited a specific case where John Mutugi, a local farmer, suffered a loss of over Ksh 80,000 after his four donkeys were killed. “We need the authorities to beef up security, as criminals are now targeting donkeys during this festive season,” Wachira added.

Mary Wambui Muthee, the Donkey Owners Coordinator for Kirinyaga County, emphasized the importance of donkeys to the local community.

 “In Mwea, donkeys are essential for transporting rice from farms to stores and fetching water for households. Over 10 donkeys have been stolen this week alone, leaving many farmers stranded,” she said.

Earlier this week, four donkey carcasses were found in Thiba North Village, about five kilometers from the latest incident. 

The animals were slaughtered and dumped near Thiba Catholic Church, but the suspects fled before residents could apprehend them.

According to Muthee, the suspect in custody may have crucial information about both incidents.

Mwea-East Sub-County Police Commander Mohammed Jarso confirmed that the suspect is being held at Wanguru Police Station and urged residents not to take the law into their own hands. 

“We managed to secure the suspect, and no one was injured during the commotion. We urge residents to report any information to the authorities instead of resorting to mob justice,” said Jarso.