Athi River water vendors have blamed the ongoing construction of Standard Gauge Railways on increased theft of their donkeys within the town and its environs.
The agitated traders who use the animals to peddle water in the town, estates and slums said their donkeys had been safe before implementation of the multibillion project began between Nairobi and Mombasa Cities.
They spoke to this writer in Athi River town on Wednesday.
“The SGR project has caused us more harm than good so far, we have recorded great losses since its implementation started,” said a water vendor who sought anonymity.
He said some workers of the project’s contractor China Road and Bridges Corporation were working with a cartel that steals and slaughters donkeys belonging to individual residents for meat.
He said the culprits were taking advantage of CRBC workers of Chinese origin who treat donkey meat as their delicacies.
“Donkey meat is likeable among the Chinese, reason why it sells more around here since the SGR project started. We suspect those who steal and slaughter our donkeys make a kill due to ready and good market,” he said.
The vendors said this barely a week since Athi River residents urged the government to crack the whip on unscrupulous butcheries that trade in uninspected donkey meat to unsuspecting customers in the town and its environments.
They said incidences of donkeys carcasses found in nearby bushes after being slaughtered at night were alarming.
More than 11 donkeys have been reportedly slaughtered by unknown assailants and carcasses recovered in Mavoko, 4 in Kathiani, one in Matungulu and several others in Mwala sub-counties over the last one month.
The vendors said the SGR project’s construction should be quickly concluded to save their donkeys and livelihoods.
They said it was expensive to replace the donkeys once stolen and slaughtered since one sells at Sh7,000.