This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
On Thursday, Martin Munene from Tharaka Nithi County made headlines after he was arrested for slaughtering and eating his dog. However, he was later released after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji intervened.
Munene's crime was not just the act of eating a dog, but also the fact that he had gone 72 hours without a meal and had no other option but to turn to his pet for food. In Kenya, dogs are not classified as food animals and slaughtering them is illegal.
According to the Meat Control Act, pigs, goats, cows, sheep, chickens, geese, ducks, pigeons, and Guinea fowls are some of the animals that can be eaten. However, dogs are not on this list.
After DPP Haji intervened, he directed the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) to liaise with the County Commissioner to provide Munene with adequate food.
"DPP Noordin Haji has directed for the immediate release of the man arrested for slaughtering and cooking a dog for lack of food at Tharaka Nithi County. He further directed county CCIO to liaise with County Commissioner to provide (the) man with adequate food," tweeted the DPP's office.
The incident has rekindled the debate on whether dog meat should be made available for sale and purchase in Kenya. In July, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko hinted at a plan to make dog meat available in Nairobi, but the idea was met with widespread condemnation from Kenyans.
