Butcher Arrested in Connection with Livestock Theft

A butcher operating a chain of Nyama Choma eateries along the Eastern Bypass is in police custody state after he was linked to the disappearance of livestock in nearby Machakos county.

Peter Njenga alias Sonko was arrested after forensic investigations linked him to the raid of a Masai manyatta on December 16, 2021, in Athi River, Machakos county.

During the raid, a herd of cattle valued at over 1 million shillings was stolen and loaded into a waiting lorry.

Detectives from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, together with Athi River-based sleuths have since established that the cattle were driven to the Dagoretti slaughterhouse, where a ready market for livestock including stolen animals thrives.

In some instances, the animals are slaughtered in the bush and ferried straight to popular meat joints in the city. The 41-year-old mastermind of the illegal trade that has left livestock keepers destitute, lives in opulence in Utawala, in the city’s outskirts.

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The suspect is an established butcher who operates his business at strategic places along the eastern bypass in Utawala and Ruiru towns, where city residents and revelers frequent to enjoy nyama choma and other accompaniments.

Expectedly, the suspect’s butcheries that offer a kilogram of beef at a highly discounted price of 380 shillings, were a beehive of activity when detectives raided them.

Maina’s arrest came after numerous complaints from Athi River-based herders, following an increase in livestock disappearance over the past few months.

The suspect has led detectives to his accomplices in the multi-million livestock theft industry. Among the arrested is the driver of the lorry that ferried the livestock, David Gachora, and the lorry’s owner Samuel Mwangi.

After checking out Gachora’s details in our criminal database, detectives established that he has a history of ferrying stolen livestock and has a similar case pending at the Mavoko Law courts.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Article by John Kachibo