Father and son count losses as thugs steal pregnant donkeys, locals fear butchers selling unsafe meat

According to Samuel Nyaga, the  assistant chief of Mahigaini sub-location, the six donkeys belonging to Eliud Muthigaini and his son Bernard Muriuki were stolen on Monday.

“The suspected thieves destroyed a local church's fence before stealing the six donkeys” he said.

Muthigaini and his son said they had suffered a huge loss because they depended on the donkeys for their daily bread.

Muriuki said the donkeys were stolen about 500 metres from their homestead on a rice farm.

“Only a few carcasses were found. They stole my four donkeys and two belonging to my father. Two of my donkeys were pregnant,” Muriuki said.

Residents led by Peter Ngugi expressed concerns over the increasing cases of donkey theft in Kirinyaga. 

“We suspect the thieves were colluding with some residents and others are working butchers in Kagio,Ngurubani, Makutano among others. This is bad and we suspect what we have been eating is donkey meat,” Ngugi said.

Nyaga said police have launched an investigation into the matter.

On March 1, eight donkeys were stolen in Kutus town in Mwea East.