Chinese investor, Lu Donglina, the owner of the Sh.350 million donkey slaughterhouse in Mogotio, Baringo County, has passed on.
Mr Lu, 75, who owns Goldox donkey slaughterhouse in Chemogoch, succumbed to an undisclosed illness at a private hospital in Nakuru on Sunday.
“Mzee died on Sunday after a short illness,” said a close aide.
Mr Lu, who owner of the only Chinese Restaurant in Nakuru, was laid to rest on Wednesday at his farm, a few kilometers from the abattoir.
Inside his 10-acre farm in Mogotio, was a factory where tons of donkey bones were turned into organic fertiliser. Mr Lu is survived by two children.
His abattoir, which roared to life in May 2016, targets countries such to China, Russia, and other far east nations where donkey products are in high demand.
Goldox, which slaughters 400 donkeys daily, sources the animals from Baringo, Narok, Kajiado, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Kiambu and Nakuru counties as well as Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
While animal rights crusaders criticised the setting up of the slaughterhouse, residents of Mogotio and farmers have been making good money.
The abattoir has employed more than 200 people besides creating business in the region.
“Mzee was a good person and as residents of Chemogoch, we shall miss him. We hope those who will take over from him will not run down the business,” said Mr Julius Sang, a shop owner at the Chemogoch trading centre.