Residents of Kamulu area in Machakos County have raised alarm over the alleged existence of an illegal donkey slaughterhouse in a private home near River Athi.

The residents, who reside near the National Leather Park Company, say the abattoir has been in existence for a while under the watch of the police.

An area resident who claimed anonymty told TV47 Digital that the said slaughterhouse has been operating in the area run by cartels who trade in donkey meat and skin, alleging that anyone who dared to mention or share information about the illegal business in the past was attacked by gangs that protected its existence.

The youth are said to be lethal and unforgiving to anyone who leaks information about the private illegal donkey slaughterhouse, feared by area adminstrators from the national government including area chiefs.

Along River Athi, few metres from the said illegal slaughterhouse, hundreds of donkey skulls are found dumped with some having fresh meat as seen by our reporter.

The protected zone is allegedly linked to high governement officials who operate donkey meat and hide business where they export donkey skin to international China markets.

According to one of the locals who sought not to be mentioned his name, Every week a white canter lorry transports donkey into the private home for slaughter overnight.

Eyewitness revealed that the white canter lorry is usualy under heavy police escort to the premise and locals only find abadoned donkey skulls along the river banks. At night, the residents claim they hear voices of hyenas feeding on the dumped donkey remains along the river banks.

Further investigations reveal that most of the donkeys are bought from border towns (Namanga and Isinya), transported by road using animal transport permit usually for domestic use to avade arrest by police officers, and easily sneaked to the area through Kitengela.