If you take meat in any Nakuru butchery, there are chances that the animal whose meat you enjoy was stolen and the meat was not inspected, greatly posing risks to your health.
Detectives have unearthed a syndicate behind theft of livestock and its sale to butcheries in Bahati, Nakuru Town and her environs.
On Monday morning, police arrested eight suspects in connection to the crime and locked them up at Bahati Police Station.
Confirming the arrest, Bahati Police boss Edward Wafula said the suspects have been stealing stock in the sub county and neighboring areas and slaughtering it in unlicensed private slaughter house before selling the meat to consumers.
“At least eight suspects in connection to stealing and slaughtering of livestock are being held by the police. The criminals operate in a syndicate that continue to cause farmers loss of money,” said Wafula.
The OCPD said suspects transport the livestock to a privately owned slaughter house hidden behind bar and pubs at Heshima area, where they slaughter the animals and supply the meat to butchers.
The meat is neither inspected by officers from public health nor those from veterinary officers, posing a risk to consumers.
Wafula said the officers laid an ambush on the owner of the butchery after receiving a tip off from members of the public that stolen stock had been sighted at the slaughter house.
The officers managed to recover several animals that were to be slaughtered.
The eight suspects when interrogated indicated that they came from Kivumbini and Mwariki in Nakuru Town East, Kwa Rhonda in Nakuru Town West, and Dondori in Bahati.
Three vehicles stationed at the slaughter house ready to transport the meat were also impounded and driven to Bahati Police Station as investigations commence.
“Cases of cattle theft in the area have been on the rise but we are interrogating those arrested to bring to book more suspects. This is aimed at containing the crime,” he said.
During the 3am ambush, the police did not arrested owners of the slaughter house who are being pursued.