Authorities Destroy Thousands of Kilograms of Illegal Meat in Moisbridge

Authorities in Moisbridge, Uasin Gishu County, have destroyed thousands of kilograms of illegal and unfit meat following a major inspection operation led by the town manager, Mr. Isaack Koskei.

 The crackdown, carried out by the Department of Public Health in collaboration with local administration officers, was part of an ongoing campaign to ensure food safety and protect consumers ahead of the festive season.

Speaking to journalists shortly after overseeing the destruction exercise, Mr. Koskei said the meat, which was seized from one of the local butcheries, had failed all quality and hygiene checks and was unfit for human consumption.

“We were conducting our routine inspection when we arrived at a particular butchery. The seller took off the moment he saw us, which immediately raised our suspicions. When we got inside, what we found was shocking. The meat was in a terrible state — discolored, with a foul smell, and clearly spoiled. Upon further investigation, we discovered that it had been stored in the refrigerator for more than six months,” Mr. Koskei said.

He added that the inspection team quickly moved to confiscate and destroy the meat in line with public health and safety guidelines. The butchery operator was later arrested and is expected to be charged in court for violating food safety laws and endangering public health.

Mr. Koskei emphasized that the local administration has intensified inspections in butcheries, hotels, and eateries across Moisbridge and neighboring areas to ensure that only fresh and safe meat products are sold to consumers. He noted that the crackdown would continue throughout the festive season, when cases of food contamination and illegal slaughter often rise.

“This is a warning to all traders handling food products. We will not tolerate anyone selling spoiled or illegally sourced meat to our people. As we approach the festive season, our priority is to protect consumers from diseases caused by contaminated food. Traders must follow proper health and safety procedures, or we will take strict action against them,” he said firmly.

According to health officials, the condemned meat may have come from animals slaughtered without proper inspection or stored under unhygienic conditions for prolonged periods. They cautioned that consuming such meat could lead to serious health complications, including food poisoning, bacterial infections, and other gastrointestinal diseases.

Local residents who witnessed the operation praised the authorities for their swift action and called for regular monitoring to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“We are happy that the county officials are taking this issue seriously. Some butcheries sell bad meat to unsuspecting customers, especially in the villages. Regular inspections will help keep us safe,” said one resident.

Mr. Koskei reiterated the county’s commitment to maintaining high public health standards, assuring the public that similar inspections would be conducted frequently and without notice. He encouraged members of the community to report any suspicious activities related to food handling or illegal slaughtering to the authorities.

“We urge residents to be vigilant. Food safety is a shared responsibility. Let us work together to ensure that what reaches our tables is safe, clean, and of good quality,” he concluded.

The destruction of the illegal meat marks one of several ongoing efforts by the Uasin Gishu County Government to promote safe food practices and strengthen public health enforcement, as part of its broader agenda to safeguard the wellbeing of residents and uphold consumer protection standards.