Uproar over plan to open donkey slaughterhouse

By Antony Gitonga                            

Nakuru, KENYA: The move to open a donkey slaughterhouse in Naivasha has elicited angry reactions from traders, donkey owners and religious leaders in the area.

The groups vowed to go to court to stop the opening of the proposed Sh15 million abattoir in Maraigushu, Naivasha.

Though the law permits slaughter and sale of donkey meat, the leaders said the timing and location of the slaughterhouse, the first in Africa, was suspect.

Naivasha Butchery Owner’s Association Chairman Douglas Ng’ang’a said sale of donkey meat had previously affected their business adversely and the situation may worsen once the abattoir is up and running.

SHELVE PLAN

He wondered why the person behind the proposed abattoir chose to locate it in Naivasha yet areas like Turkana and Pokot had an equally high number of donkeys.

“The move will end up tarnishing the name of Naivasha town and affecting our businesses and we are totally opposed to this,” he said.

Ali Mohammed, a Muslim leader, said eating donkey meat was against Islamic teachings and called for shelving of the plan to open the slaughterhouse.

Joseph Kariuki, a donkey owner, said cases of the animals being stolen for slaughter could rise if the venture takes off. “This new slaughterhouse could spell doom for water vendors who rely on donkey to fetch the water,” he said.

On Tuesday, a local entrepreneur, John Ngonjo Kariuki, led Government officers and investors on a tour the plant which is 95 per cent complete. Kariuki said he aims to slaughter between 70-100 donkeys per day, with all the meat expected to be exported to China.

Naivasha Sub County Veterinary Officer Enos Amuyunzu said sale of donkey meat in the country has been legal since 1999.

“The next move will for the owner to seek an export licence and the investors to inspect the slaughterhouse to make sure that it meets international standards,” he said.

Amuyunzu said this would be the first ever donkey slaughterhouse in the country.