Thirty donkeys rescued from a Juja warehouse were moved to a private farm for feeding and safekeeping.
Police rescued 30 donkeys from a warehouse in Kalimoni, Juja, Kiambu County.
Officers found the animals weak, hungry and without enough food.
The multi-agency team raided the premises on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Police, county officials and government officers took part in the operation.
Authorities suspect the warehouse served as an illegal donkey slaughter site.
The team later moved all 30 donkeys to a nearby private farm.
The farm will provide food and shelter as investigators pursue the people behind the operation.
Reports of Dumped Carcasses Triggered Raid
The raid followed reports of donkey carcasses dumped around Juja.
Residents had also raised concerns about possible illegal meat activities in the area.
According to investigators, the reports prompted authorities to inspect the gated premises.
However, officers found no suspects inside the warehouse.
Investigators are now tracing the property’s owners and other people linked to the operation.
Inside the two-storey building, officers found donkeys of different ages.
The team also rescued two young donkeys during the operation.
Furthermore, investigators suspect the operators slaughtered animals at night.
They believe the operators kept the warehouse closed during the day to avoid detection.
Meanwhile, a neighbour told investigators that suspicious activity occurred at the property about once a week.
Police Recover Knives and Packaging Materials
The officers also recovered several items that could link the warehouse to slaughter activities.
These included blood-stained knives, clothing and sacks containing donkey waste.
In addition, investigators found polythene bags used to handle carcasses.
They also recovered waterproof paper bags that could have carried packaged meat.
Police further found a jerrycan containing sulphuric acid at the premises.
Investigators are examining how the chemical may have featured in the suspected operation.
However, authorities have not established its exact purpose.
Crime scene officers documented the warehouse as the investigation continued.
Investigators Trace Donkeys and Suspected Meat Market
Authorities are now working to establish where the rescued donkeys came from.
They also want to determine where operators may have taken meat from slaughtered animals.
The case has raised fresh concerns about illegal donkey slaughter in Kiambu and Nairobi.
In 2021, the High Court quashed the government’s 2020 ban on donkey slaughterhouses.
The ruling allowed licensed slaughterhouses to operate under the applicable regulations.
Even so, authorities continue to investigate suspected unlicensed slaughter operations.
Meanwhile, officials have urged Juja residents to report suspicious donkey movements.
Residents should also report unusual smells or activity around warehouses.
Police and county officials say they will continue monitoring the area.
The investigation will focus on identifying the people behind the suspected operation and establishing whether anyone traded the meat illegally.
