Kenya Police have arrested a flamboyant butcher known as Peter Njenga who is also known as Sonko over allegations of livestock theft.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) released a statement on Sunday which stated that the butcher who operates a series of Nyama Choma eateries along the eastern bypass was arrested after her was accused if livestock theft in Machakos county.
“Peter Njenga alias Sonko was arrested after forensic investigations linked him to the raid of a Masai manyatta on December 16, last year in Athi River, Machakos county,” the DCI statement reads.
“During the raid staged in the dead of the night, a herd of cattle valued at over Sh1 million was stolen and loaded into a waiting lorry
“Detectives from the elite 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. The suspect is an established butcher who operates nyama choma eateries, scattered across the city.
“They 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 last evening.
Sonko was arrested after several complaints from herders from Athi River after they experienced an increase in livestock disappearance over the past couple of months.
Maina alias “sonko” was grilled last night and he led the crime investigators or detectives to his accomplices in the lucrative livestock theft business. Those arrested alongside Maina are the lorry driver that transported the livestock, David Gachora, and lorry 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. More arrests to follow.”
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