Livestock farmers in Samburu County will soon stop taking their animals to abattoirs in other regions after a plan was set in motion to establish a Sh100 million modern slaughterhouse.
In an environmental impact assessment report sent to regulatory authorities, the county said it has partnered with the European Union to set up a quality meat processing and packaging facility that will enable them sell products locally as well as to global markets.
The abattoir, to be set up at Nomotio on the Livestock Improvement Centre Farm, will have a capacity to process at least 50 head of cattle, 200 goats and sheep per week.
If implemented, this could slash revenue for Laikipia County which runs livestock auction markets in Ol Moran and Rumuruti that rake in about Sh1 million weekly. The two auction yards have for years served as a meeting point for animal buyers from Nairobi, Nakuru and Nyeri among other major towns.
Rumuruti also hosts a privately owned modern abattoir that buys animals from the auction for slaughter with the meat exported to high-end supermarkets in Nairobi.
The report said the project will also boost relationships with the neighbouring counties of Baringo and Turkana, which will be able to use the facility.
It will lso have a recycling bay where various byproducts, non-edible offal, fat, bones and blood will be collected for rendering — a technique used to process animal by-product materials into tallow, grease and high-protein meat as well as bone meal.
“Animal blood is a good source of protein and can be used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. Obtaining blood plasma in particular opens up lucrative opportunities as it is in high demand from a wide variety of industries,” says the report authored by lead expert Alfred Ochieng.
Meanwhile, West Pokot and its neighbouring counties are set to reap from Nasukuta abattoir which is now in its final stages of construction.
The facility in Pserum, Chepareria, constructed by the government, will boost the region’s economy.
County Pastoral and Livestock minister Geoffrey Lipale said residents will be relieved from the burden of carrying the animals to far places. “There will be ready market and farmers will be paid according to the weight of meat. We are working around the clock to make sure that farmers start benefiting from the facility as soon as possible,” he said.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has called upon residents to engage in large-scale animal production, adding that they will make sure they attract demand from foreign markets.
The county boss hinted that the county government will plan trainings for farmers to ensure high production levels.