By NICHOLAS WAITATHU
Prices for cattle, goat, and camel have risen between 10 and 35 per cent in the last one week, due to the onset of long rains and high demand in external markets.
“Prices of live beef has gone up by 67 per cent for the last one month. A whole cow, which a few weeks ago cost between Sh30, 000 and Sh32,000, is currently retailing for more than Sh50, 000,” said David Kamuyu, who operates butchery at Kangemi area.
He warns that the arrival of long rains has led to price realignment warning that the upward trend is likely to remain until June and July.
Consumers are now buying one kilogramme of beef at between Sh380 and Sh400, compared to between Sh300 and Sh320 a few weeks ago.
Dr Hussein Mahmoud a senior lecture at Pwani University says rising demand for camel meat in Arab countries has also pushed prices up of the animal in North Eastern and Nairobi markets.
“Consumers in Arab countries prefer camel meat from the horn of Africa, which they say is sweet compared to meat they source from other vast global market segments such as Europe, Australia, and USA,” he added.
Hussein said consumers in Nairobi are buying a kg of camel meat for Sh500, up from Sh450 a month ago in Nairobi, while those in Garissa are paying Sh400 for the meat, up from Sh350 last month.
Camels are being sold at between Sh70,000 and Sh80,000 in Garissa, between Sh90,000 and Sh100,000 in Moyale, and Sh80,000 in Nairobi.
“Demand of camel meat in Arab region mainly in Saudi Arabia is high attracting importers to source for camel from horn of Africa through Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Northern Somalia. Traders in these markets are sourcing for camel from northern Kenya,” he added.
Director of Livestock Julius Kiptarus added price of goats across the country has also increased by 33.3 per cent for the last weeks.
“Consumers are buying a goat at Sh8, 000, an increase from Sh6, 000 two weeks ago. But during the Easter festive season demand for goat meat was high,” he added.
