Naivasha donkey slaughterhouse reopens after renovations

NAIVASHA, KENYA: The controversial Naivasha donkey-slaughterhouse has been reopened after it was closed down two months ago by the department of veterinary services.

The Star Brilliant abattoir located in Kinamba area of Naivasha opened its doors after massive renovation in the facility with warning that it faced closure if it did not adhere to law.

This came as it emerged that the facility was experiencing a shortage of donkeys with insiders pointing to stiff competition for the crisis.

The facility was closed last month following investigations by the Kenya Society for the protection and care of animals and veterinary department over facility’s condition.

In the letter signed by Dr Nicholas Ayore from the department of veterinary services, the slaughterhouse had contravened the law by skinning dead donkeys as the live once watched.

"On the 12th of May 2017, officers from Kenya Society for the protection and care of animals visited the facility and filmed dead and dying donkeys lying in the muddy ground."

Confirming the reopening, the director of veterinary services in Nakuru County Dr Enos Amuyunzu said that the facility had been given a go-ahead to operate.

He noted that officers from the department had visited the facility and established that it had met all the set standards.

"The abattoir was closed down due to poor working conditions which posed a threat to consumers and this has now been addressed," he said.

Amuyunzu added that they were keenly monitoring the operations of the slaughterhouse warning that they would not hesitate to close it again if the management flouted the law.

"In a video recorded during the investigations, fresh and skinned carcasses of donkeys are seen lying on muddy ground as others line next for slaughter and we shall not condone this," he said.

This came as the Africa Veterinary Technical Association questioned the move to reopen the slaughterhouse at a time when the country's donkeys were on the decline.

According to the association chairman Benson Ameda, the slaughterhouses were to blame for the drop in donkeys’ population adding that this spelt doom for the country.

"We have seen cases where donkeys are been slaughtered in pathetic conditions and the meat sold to unsuspecting members of the public," he said.

He added that cases of donkey theft across the country were on the rise noting that this spelt doom for the sector.

"We are calling on the CS of agriculture and livestock to urgently form a task force to investigate the challenges currently facing this sector," he said.