Nema shuts another county slaughterhouse in two weeks

The filthy Brooke slaughter house. National Environment Management Authority (Nema) closed yesterday. [Standard]

The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has shut down a second slaughterhouse in the county.

Kericho Nema Director of Environment Samuel Odeng ordered the closure of the slaughterhouse at Roret market, accusing the county government of contravening requirements of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act and subsequent regulations at its slaughterhouse at Roret market.

The closure followed another at Brooke trading center in Ainamoi Constituency last week.

“The county has not put in place appropriate measures to ensure both the liquid and solid waste do not negatively impact the environment,” Mr Odeng stated in letter to the county secretary Joel Bett. 

In the letter, Odeng ordered the county to clean up within seven days.

“You are also directed to submit a commitment letter to the Authority within seven days, indicating the appropriate measures that you will put in place to ensure compliance to this order with clear timelines,” he wrote.

Ainamoi sub-county public health officer Joseph Kilel supported the closure, saying the slaughterhouse was a nuisance to the neighbouring estates.

However, Phillus Langat, the Roret slaughterhouse chairman, appealed to Nema to give it more time.

“We have done some renovations at the abattoir, we are asking Nema to allow us to continue slaughtering animals there while we look for an alternative land,” he said.

The acting County Director of Veterinary Services Erick Wandera said the department had withdrawn a meat inspector posted at the abattoir.

“Butchery operators within Brooke, Kapsaos are advised to relocate slaughtering to the county’s main slaughter house in Kericho town,” he said.