Butchers have been asked to buy meat from licensed abattoirs to cushion customers from eating meat from sick animals.
Speaking in his office on Thursday, Kiambu public health officer (PHO) Francis Mwangi warned that his office will also crack the whip on those selling food without valid licences.
The officer made the remarks following an incident where three people were beaten and frog matched to Karuri police station last week after they were allegedly found discarding donkey carcasses in Banana, Kiambu County.
Mwangi noted that some butchers sell their meat in unhygienic conditions risking the lives of residents due to greed for money, adding that it was unlawful to buy meat from unlicensed outlets.
James Njoroge, a veterinary officer in Kikuyu Sub-County said in an interview on Wednesday that most diseases affecting domestic animals could also be fatal human beings.
He said diseases such as anthrax are infectious and could be fatal to both animals and humans.
He said the disease could be spread from animals to human beings if a person gets into contact with a sick or dead animal.
He said some livestock farmers are tempted to “slaughter the sick animal” and sell the meat to unsuspecting traders who in turn sell it unknowingly to customers.
He said butchers must buy meat from recognised abattoirs where proper inspection is done to all the animals before they are slaughtered under proper hygienic conditions.
Njoroge further advised livestock farmers to vaccinate their animals regularly to curb animal diseases.