Residents raise concern over meat shortage in Trans Nzoia

A deepening livestock shortage in Trans Nzoia County is raising alarm among butchers, traders, and consumers, with industry players warning of a looming meat crisis if urgent measures are not taken.

Abattoirs across the county are reporting dwindling numbers of animals for slaughter, a situation stakeholders say has persisted for months.

The chairperson of slaughterhouses in the county, Joseph Lamai, says the shortage is now critical, forcing traders to source cattle from neighbouring countries.

“We have been experiencing this shortage for a long time. Most of the cattle slaughtered here are now coming from Uganda and South Sudan, while others are sourced from Tanzania and different parts of Kenya.” Lamai said.

He cautioned that the government’s strong focus on dairy farming, irrigation and crop production risks sidelining the livestock sector, which is equally vital to food security.

 “As we push for irrigation, we must not forget livestock. Pastoralists are incurring heavy losses due to a lack of water and pasture. We need clear strategies to support them,” he added.

Lamai warned that continued reliance on indigenous cattle without investing in structured beef breeding programmes could leave the country unable to meet its growing demand for meat. He also called for a temporary suspension of meat exports, arguing that external markets are exerting pressure on local supply.

“Exports are good, but right now they are straining our domestic market and pushing prices up,” he stated.

In Kitale town, meat trader Elisha Khalai echoed the concerns, noting that the shortage is already disrupting related industries.

 “We are seeing fewer hides in the market, which will definitely affect the leather industry. At the moment, we can’t even sell hides; we give them to transporters just to cover costs.” Khalai said.

Consumers are also feeling the pinch. Vincent Wanyonyi, a resident, said the price of beef has surged sharply. 

“A kilo of beef was Sh600, now it’s going for up to Sh800. That’s too expensive,” he said, adding that he is considering poultry farming as an alternative source of meat.

Meanwhile, meat inspector Paul Misati revealed that daily slaughter numbers have dropped significantly.

“We used to process over 35 animals a day, but now we are down to about 10 cattle, with sheep and goats also declining sharply,” Misat said.

Stakeholders are now urging the government to invest in large-scale livestock production and review export policies to stabilise supply and prices before the situation worsens.