A man accused of slaughtering cats and selling the meat to Samosa vendors in Nakuru appeared in Court yesterday and pleaded guilty.
James Mukangu Kimani was charged with slaughtering and selling cat meat to unsuspecting customers on June 24, at Showground area in Nakuru town.
According to the charge sheet, Kimani slaughtered a cat for human consumption contrary to the Foods, Drugs, and Chemical Substances Act. He also faced another charge of slaughtering an animal in undesignated place contrary to the meat control regulations.
The suspect defended himself saying he had been contracted by someone else who offered good pay if he delivered the meat and skin.
He pleaded for leniency before Nakuru Chief Magistrate Benard Mararo, who sentenced the suspect to three years in jail. The court said the sentence was proportionate with the offence committed.
The Judge sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of a Sh200,000 fine for the charges of slaughtering the cat for the purpose of human consumption, and another 1 year or a fine of Sh 50,000 for the second count of slaughtering an animal in undesignated place.
Kimani will serve the sentence consecutively.
He was arrested after he was found skinning a cat on Sunday. Speaking to journalists, Kimani confessed that he had sold more than 1,000 cats to samosa vendors and a hotel in the town since 2012.
He further disclosed that he has a market for cat skins and that he earns at least Sh500 for every cat he slaughters.
“I began this business in 2012 after I saw there was need for the meat by samosa sellers. I tell my clients that I get the meat from Gioto (a popular dump site) but they do not know it is cat meat,” he said.
