JUJA, Kenya — Police and multi-agency officers have raided an alleged illegal donkey slaughterhouse operating from a warehouse in Kalimoni Ward, Juja Sub-County, Kiambu County, rescuing 30 live animals found in poor condition.
The raid was conducted on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, following reports of donkey carcasses being dumped at different locations in Juja.
The reports raised concerns among authorities over a possible illegal slaughter and meat-trading operation in the area.
30 Donkeys Found Inside Warehouse
A multi-agency team comprising officers from the National Police Service, National Government Administration Officers and Kiambu County Government raided the compound after receiving what police described as actionable intelligence.
Inside the gated compound, measuring approximately 50 by 70 feet, officers found 30 donkeys of different ages being kept inside a two-storey building.
Police said the animals appeared to be in poor condition and had possibly been deprived of food.
Investigators suspect the donkeys may have been kept at the premises for slaughter.
Blood-Stained Knives, Slaughter Waste Recovered
Officers also recovered several items that they said pointed to possible slaughter activities.
These included blood-stained knives and clothing, sacks containing donkey slaughter waste and polythene bags similar to those allegedly used to dispose of animal waste and carcasses.
Investigators also found waterproof paper bags suspected to have been intended for packaging meat.
A jerrycan containing sulphuric acid was also recovered.
Police suspect the chemical may have been used to suppress the smell of meat and slaughter waste, although investigations will be required to establish how it was being used.
No Suspect Found at Scene
No suspect was found at the premises when officers arrived.
However, a neighbour told investigators that activities at the compound could usually be heard at night, approximately once a week.
Police and county authorities have launched efforts to identify and apprehend the proprietor of the facility and other people suspected of involvement in the alleged illegal slaughter and meat trade.
Crime scene investigation officers from Juja processed and documented the premises as investigations continued.
Rescued Donkeys Moved to Private Farm
The 30 donkeys were rescued and transported to a nearby private farm, where they are expected to receive food and care as authorities determine their next steps.
Officials said monitoring of the area would continue as investigators work to establish who was behind the suspected operation.
The raid also comes amid wider concerns over donkey theft and the illegal trade in donkey products in Kenya.
Donkey Meat Is Not Illegal in Kenya
Despite the raid, donkey meat itself is not illegal in Kenya.
The concerns in the Juja case relate to the alleged operation of an illegal slaughter facility and suspected unlawful handling and disposal of donkey products.
The country’s donkey slaughter industry has faced years of controversy over animal welfare, theft and the declining donkey population.
The High Court previously lifted a 2020 ban on donkey slaughterhouses, allowing licensed slaughter operations to resume.
Study Warns of Donkey Theft Networks
The raid comes against the backdrop of a national study by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) examining the theft and illegal trade in donkey skins and related products.
The report, titled Theft and Illegal Trade in Donkey Skins and Related Products in Kenya, describes donkey theft and illegal slaughter as an emerging security and socio-economic challenge.
Researchers found evidence of organised networks involving clandestine slaughterhouses and cross-border trafficking, driven largely by international demand for donkey skins.
The study also warned that Kenya’s donkey population declined from approximately 1.8 million in 2009 to 1.1 million in 2019, affecting rural households that rely on donkeys for transport, farm work and income.
NCRC Calls for Stronger Donkey Protection Laws
The NCRC study recommends a comprehensive Donkey Protection Law to regulate the donkey value chain, strengthen animal-welfare protections and introduce specific offences and tougher penalties for donkey theft and illegal slaughter.
Researchers also want donkeys classified as a threatened livestock species and stronger implementation of the African Union moratorium on donkey slaughter for skins.
Other proposals include a national donkey identification and traceability system, tighter livestock movement controls, verified certificates of origin and rescue centres for recovered animals.
Crackdown on Organised Donkey Trade
The researchers have called for law-enforcement agencies to target entire criminal networks rather than focusing only on people carrying out the physical slaughter.
The proposed approach would target financiers, brokers, transporters and other actors involved in the supply chain.
The study also recommends closer cooperation among East African Community countries to combat cross-border trafficking, digitisation of livestock movement permits and increased inspections of slaughterhouses, meat processors and hide collection centres.
