Abattoir now open for business

By ALI ABDI

ISIOLO, KENYA: Isiolo abattoir, which has capacity to slaughter 400 cattle per day, is now ready for use.

The Ministry of Agriculture handed over the Sh850 million slaughter house, whose construction started in 2006, to the county government on Tuesday afternoon.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry, Khadijah Kassachoon who represented Cabinet Secretary Felix Kosgey handed over the modern slaughter house to Governor Godana Doyo.

Apart from the slaughter house and its related machineries, the facility also has a feedlot centre and a holding ground.

These were funded through the ministry under the Economic Stimulus Programme and the African Development Bank (ADB).

Dr Kassachoon said Isiolo’s abattoir is the first to be completed and devolved to the county government under the new Constitution.

“We are handing over the modern slaughter house to the county government. It is ready for use and you can even start using it now,” she said.

She, however, said the ministry would continue to offer financial and technical support to the project until it is fully equipped.

disease free zones

The national Government will also set up two disease free zones - one in Isiolo and another at the Coast at the cost of Sh9 billion to jump start livestock marketing.

According to former Livestock Development Minister Mohammed Kuti, who is now Isiolo Senator, the Government will inject Sh3 billion while the remaining Sh6 billion would be sourced from donors who include ADB and Middle Eastern countries.

The facility in Isiolo has secured an initial Sh800 million from ADB under the Isiolo/Samburu/Laikipia disease free complex. Both sites are set to be completed by 2016.

Doyo said the abattoir would be a major boost to the livestock sector by enhancing marketing of produce in the entire Northern region.

The governor also urged pastoral communities to rear more quality livestock in preparation to supply the required stock.