Goat, sheep business performs poorly during Eid ul-Adha celebrations

A customer chooses a goat for slaughter at Kiamaiko Goat market in Nairobi on June 28,2023 as the world celebrated Idd-ul adha. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Kiamaiko Goat and sheep business owners have registered low sales during this year's Eid ul-Adha celebrations.

The traders told The Standard that this a sharp contrast from last year's when they had booming business.

According to the players in the market, this year has recorded the highest number of flock compared to the years before.

"In today's Eid ul-Adha we have received more than 15, 000 flock of sheep and goats an increase from the normal 600 flocks but the amount of sale is low," Ibrahim Hassan, who serves as the chairman of the market and a businessperson also.

Hassan said that the challenges in the economy have made their customers to drop away as they lack proper income to buy their products.

"The business is low because the economy is down and this has resulted in low purchasing power. Many customers fail to meet our preferred price," said Hassan.

The goat and sheep traders noted that despite the challenge, their selling price has shot down to Sh1,100 per goat/sheep from the normal Sh5, 500.

At the same time the business people dealing in supply of animal feeds to the market complained of pricing of feeds.

According to them, prices remained at the normal rateof Sh200 for a bunch of grass.

Hassan however expressed optimism, noting that he expectats day's sale to improve.

"I expect the business to improve so that we can collect more than approximately Sh15 million shillings," said Hassan.

He added that the spell has been favorable as they received healthier flocks on this day.

"The flock we received today look healthier than those we sold last season due to the favorable conditions of rainfall during the season, "said Hassan.

He said the market hosts about 10,000 business people who trade in the goat and sheep only.