By Gregory Musyoki
A butcher operating a chain of Nyama Choma eateries along Eastern bypass has been arrested after he was linked to last month’s cattle raid at Masai Manyatta in Athi River, Machakos where animals worth over Sh1 million were stolen.
A 41-year-old Peter Njenga alias Sonko was arrested after forensic investigations linked him to the incident where the herd of cattle was stolen and loaded into a waiting lorry whose driver and owner David Gachora and Samuel Mwangi have also been arrested.
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 suspect, who operates nyama choma eateries, scattered across the city, is believed to be the mastermind of the illegal trade that has left livestock keepers destitute.
The eateries are located at strategic places along the eastern bypass in Utawala and Ruiru towns, where city residents and revelers frequent to enjoy mouth-watering nyama choma and other accompaniments.
Expectedly, the suspect’s butcheries that offer a kilogram of beef at a highly discounted price of Sh380, were a beehive of activity when detectives raided them Friday evening.
Mr Maina’s arrest came after numerous complaints from Athi River based herders, following an increase in livestock theft over the past few months.
Mr Gachora, the lorry’s driver, has a pending case at Mavoko Law Courts for ferrying stolen livestock.
