By John Kamau, The Star, Kenya
An abattoir launched in Nairobi last Thursday offers livestock farmers a modern halal market for their animals.
More than 3,000 small scale farmers from Narok, Kajiado, Samburu and Isiolo counties raised the cash and built Halal Slaughterhouse on 16 acres land in Baba Dogo.
The slaughterhouse employs 100 people and has chilling and freezing capacity able to handle 350 large animals and 2,500 small ones.
Speaking during the launch the abattoir’s general manager, Ali Mohammed, said they are slaughtering 900 sheep and goats daily.
“We are currently selling most of our meat locally while exporting just a small percentage to the Middle East. We are looking forward to extending our market to the East African community and Comesa,” Mohammed said.
He said demand for the meat products in the Middle East, Asia and other markets in Africa is on the rise.
Mohammed said they are laying down strategies to widen their market coverage and extend it to the European countries once they acquire relevant licenses.
“We are also thinking of upgrading our services in the near future by value addition this will go long way in strengthening our market,” he said.
Kenya Livestock Marketing Council Chief Executive Officer Kalicha Wario said the slaughterhouse will give farmers a better market.
“This will go long way in improving pastoralists livelihoods,” Wario said.
