Exit the goat auctions, enter meat hawkers

By Alex Kiprotich

As the country is treated to macabre scenes

outside Kenya Meat Commission of carcases, a small town is enjoying a boom.

A visit to the centre along Nakuru-Kabarnet Road, which is characterised by rusty-iron-roofed houses during weekends, is like visiting a car showroom.

Vehicles of different makes are parked along the road as motorists tour several butcheries to buy meat of their choice.

Here meat is hawked like fruits. Photo: Boniface Thuku/Standard

Another customer, Peter Kimaiyo, says he buys the meat for his family.

"Meat from Koriema is of high quality and delicious."

He says even without value addition, it is a hit to meat lovers. But Kimaiyo, who is a soldier, says the butcheries need to improve how they handle meat.

Proper hygiene

"They need to ensure that their environment is clean because most of the times, they deal with so many customers and proper hygiene must be maintained," he says.

Former area councillor Richard Chebon says goat meat from the area is a favourite of many families.

"Goats from the region are famed for their taste because they are bred on saline soils," he says.

Linah Kimoi says the centre expanded fast during goat auctions, but the pace has gone down. She says the Government should reopen the auction to uplift livelihoods.

She says commuters cannot sustain the more than 10,000 residents. "Each family has at least 30 goats and we need a market for our livestock," she says.