Illegal sausages factory busted in Nyandarua

Officers from public health and KEBs inspect the illegal sausage making factory in Magumu Kinangop constituency following a successful raid. The owner who fled before the officers arrived has been illegally producing sausages under poor hygiene with suspicion that he was using donkey meat before he was busted. PHOTO: Antony Gitonga

KENYA: Lovers of sausages have been placed on a high alert after government officers busted an illegal factory producing tens of the products in Magumu Kinangop in Nyandarua County.

Chunks of rotting meat, unknown chemicals, half produced sausages and a nauseating smell emanated from the mansion cum factory where the sausages are being manufactured.

Officers from public health, KEBs and members of the public were left tongue-tied and in shock after a tip off by members of the public who noticed men ferrying in meat in paper bags.

The lone house in Matches village along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway was the source of the sausages which was termed as lethal and unfit for human consumption.

According to Kinangop Sub-County public health officer Mary Maina, the products from the 'factory' were unfit for human consumption and could cause food poisoning.

Speaking outside the factory, Maina said that the source or the meat and other ingredients used in the process were not known adding that they had launched a manhunt for those involved.

"We fear that the sausages could have found their way to neighbouring towns and we are asking members of the public to be keen on what they are eating," she said.

Maina termed the facility as illegal adding that the condition under which the sausages were manufactured was disturbing.

Magumu Assistant County Commissioner Mathew Wambugu said that they raided the facility after a tip off from members of the public.

He said that in the last couple of months, they had noticed an increase in donkey skeletons adding that the business could have been going on for some months.

"Area residents had reported cases of slaughtered donkeys and we believe that the meat and other ingredients have been used to manufacture these sausages," he said.

While issuing a warning to consumers, Wambugu said that they were keenly following up the suspects who escaped before they arrived.

On her part, Alice Mithamo a surveillance officer with KEBs said that all the equipment found in the facility had been confiscated as part of the investigations.

She said that the government agency was keen to protecting consumers by making sure that products in the market were fit for human consumption.

"We have found some rotting meat in the house facility which is in pathetic condition but KEBs shall make sure that such unscrupulous traders are not in the market," she said.

A couple of months ago, health officers in Nakuru busted a firm producing yoghurt milk using various lethal ingredients.