Kajiado County to partner with Athi River prison to boost tannery industry

Kajiado county government will partner with the Kenya Prisons department to support the Athi River Prison tannery in a bid to ensure a market for hides and skins.

Kajiado County Governor David Nkedianye (left) receives leather shoes from Athi River Prison officer in-change Bison Mandegwa during a visit to the institution on 3r January 2016. The Kajiado County Government will partner with Kenya Prisons department to boost the Athi River GK prison tannery in a bid to ensure a market for hides and skins. PETERSON GITHAIGA

Kajiado Governor David Nkidianye said his government will work together with the national government to help the prison's tannery access a ready a market.

He said his government shall inject some money in the tannery department upon supplying hides, and marketing the leather products.

During his tour of the prison department in Kitengela at the weekend, Dr Nkedianye said the facility that has existed since 1958 remains a beacon of hope for Kajiado residents  despite being under utilised.

The prison boasts of having skilled man power and machines that are not fully utilised.

Kajiado is one of the biggest producers of livestock and with the tannery being fully operational, the residents stand to benefit most as much of the hides go to waste for lack of market.

"For years, the Maasai community has been selling hide and skins at a throw away price to brokers due to lack of any common marketing strategy and ready market, eventually seeing the pastoralists benefit less from their livestock," said Nkidianye.

He said the Athi River Prison has well-trained tannery experts whose work has been highly rated.

The governor said after the prison and the county government come up with an outlined hides and skins marketing plan, it will be easy for the sector to benefit pastoralists.

He noted that the partnership will be a big income boost to the prisons industry, and increase government revenue.

"We have experts in this industry but marketing our products is still a big challenge since the hides and skins are not readily available. Getting the skins in small quantities from individuals makes us lack consistency in making products, eventually losing our potential clients who might want to purchase certain products in large quantities," he said.

According to the officer in-charge of the prison, Bison Mandegwa, purchasing of the hides and skins direct from individuals sees them incur fluctuating prices.

He said the prison's tannery trains inmates in making various leather products.

The county government also pledged to support the woodwork, soap making and metal works departments.

The facility holds 800 inmates, and 300 staff, and it produces products that range from leather bags, football, hats to shoes and many others.