The government has been urged to investigate the source of meat imported into the country following the horse meat scandal in the UK.

Former chairman of the parliamentary committee on agriculture John Mututho said the meat might find its way into the Kenyan market.

The former Naivasha MP expressed fears over the imports and called on the relevant government bodies to investigate the source and standards of the meat.

Mututho likened the issue of horse meat to that of the donkey which has affected parts of the country especially Naivasha.

"The sale of horse and donkey meat has emerged in some European countries and the government should investigate the source of all imported meat," he said.

Mututho attributed the increase in the illegal meat trade to poverty and harsh economic times.

He said that two years since the first case of donkey-slaughter was reported in Naivasha no suspect had been arrested.

"The illegal trade has been going on for over two years with over 100 donkeys slaughtered but incidentally no one has been arrested," he said.

Meanwhile officers from the departments of public health and livestock conducted a major inspection exercise in food joints in Naivasha.

The operation followed the arrest of a trader found selling un-inspected meat in one of the leading food joints.

According to the Naivasha veterinary officer Dr Peterson Njiru, 54kgs of unfit meat had been recovered.

"The trader was arrested and arraigned in court and we have embarked on a major operation to make sure that the meat sold is inspected," he said.

Njiru warned any trader found selling such meat that he would be arrested and the business premises closed down.