Police recover 20 stolen donkeys in Machakos

Dr. Julie Kelly of the African Network for Animal Welfare vaccinates donkeys at Mwala in Machakos county on August 15, 2023./FILE

Twenty donkeys were recovered on Monday after they were reportedly stolen from Syokimau, Machakos County.

The animals, 11 females and nine males, were intercepted along the Ngelani–Katani road in Katani location, Athi River sub-county, after a suspect abandoned them and fled the scene.

According to a police report filed at Mavoko Police Station, a village elder reported the incident at around 4.30pm as a case of stock theft and recovery. The donkeys were found being escorted towards Katani before the suspect disappeared, leaving them unattended.

Police officers who responded to the scene confirmed the recovery and escorted the animals to the station. They noted that all 20 donkeys bore different identifying marks. The animals are being held at the station awaiting identification and formal handover to their rightful owner.

Investigations into the theft have been launched.

The recovery comes amid rising cases of livestock theft in Machakos and neighbouring regions. Donkeys, in particular, have been frequent targets, with many stolen animals later found slaughtered, often in thickets or abandoned sites.

In December 2023, detectives in Embu raided a homestead in Kajekeru village, where they found 20 freshly slaughtered donkey carcasses, a vehicle, and slaughter tools.

Three suspects were arrested and charged, while one carcass was recovered intact.

In May 2025, authorities in Narok Central sub-county arrested two people illegally herding 69 donkeys without permits. The animals were suspected to have been stolen from the Ololopil area.

The Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) has also been working to curb the illegal donkey trade. In November 2024, it rescued 203 donkeys in two separate operations, providing them with food, vaccinations, and new homes.

In another case in May 2024, police in Kirinyaga arrested suspected donkey thieves who admitted to slaughtering animals and selling the meat in Nairobi. The suspects were found with 25 skinned donkey heads, and their vehicle was later set ablaze by an angry mob