Baringo plans to revive goat auction famous in Moi era

President Moi and other dignitaries viewing goats offered for sale at the Kimalel goat auction in December 1989.  [PHOTOS:LEONARD KULEI AND FILE/STANDARD]

By  LEONARD KULEI

BARINGO, KENYA: Barely 10 years after retired President Daniel arap Moi relinquished power, residents of Baringo County not only miss being the seat of power but also the once famous Kimalel goat auction.

The annual event, which began in 1986, offered a special way for meat lovers across the country to welcome Christmas. The auction was the brainchild of retired President Moi to enable Baringo residents to be self-reliant by selling their goats.

Since the collapse of the project following Moi’s exit from power in 2002, what remains in what was once a favourite Christmas destination for Kenya’s who’s who in the political and corporate world is ruins, thorny shrubs and overgrown acacia trees.

However, Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi says the goat auction will be re-opened soon.

Cheboi said apart from economically empowering livestock keepers, it would boost tourism in the region.

“We are working towards re-opening the famous goat auction most likely in December,” he said.

RESIDENTS POOR

Since the auction collapsed, thousands of residents who looked after their livestock hoping to sell them in December are now languishing in poverty.

Today, the once vibrant butcheries of the Moi days are now rusty buildings, making Kimalel a ghost town.

“Look at these eight houses, they were butcheries which operated full time in those days. Today, the owners are very poor. They are jobless since there is no market for their meat,” said a dejected Dickson Kiprop as he pointed at a house that used to be his butchery.

Not far from the town is a deserted airstrip with only goats laying comfortably on the runway. A faded signpost, perhaps bearing the worst brunt of the scorching heat synonymous with the area, stands tall. Beside it is a torn windsock.

Christine Bowen, a resident of Kimalel said the auction enabled them to dispose of thousands of goats  to raise school fees for their children and meet other family obligations.

“Moi did a wonderful thing by bringing a ready market close to the people. We own thousands of goats here and during that time, I managed to take all my children to school without any problem,” said the mother of seven.

During the annual, single day event, over 8,000 goats were sold which were grouped according to the number of locations in Baringo County. The proceeds were later shared equally among the owners.

Andrew Rumenya, Kimalel location chief, says the economy of the area was vibrant because they not only sold goats to the visitors but also honey and other goods found in the region.

“We got a lot of income from the auction. Since it stopped, people here have had to contend with hard economic times as there is no good market for our meat,” said Rumenya.

The chief recalls that at times, a goat would be auctioned for up to Sh10,000 which was a lot of money then. He says chiefs would then go to banks and collect the money which, according to the number of people whose goats were sold, would be distributed.

“Every chief knew the number of goats their location sold and we would distribute the money equally after the auction was done,” said the chief.

“Koriema” meat, which to date remains a delicacy in most hotels in the Rift Valley, was famed for its salty taste, an attribute Kimalel residents say is because of the saline water in the area.

Baringo residents who heavily rely on livestock as a source of income are now reeling in poverty, most of them harbouring fond memories of the Kimalel goat auction.

The collapse of the project has not only impacted negatively on Baringo residents economically but also opened up the area to rustling.

“Raiders from the neighbouring Pokot community are now killing and displacing people especially in Loruk and Bartabwa divisions because they want goats and cattle. We need a market for these animals to avoid such dangers and losses,” said Wilson Kelwon.

Big hotels in nearby towns were not spared by the crunch. Kabarnet Hotel, which was a stopover for Moi and top Government officials after the auction, is today operating at a bare minimum.

“During those days, hotel business here was booming. We got a lot of money especially in December because we would host retired President Moi and some ministers if they didn’t go to other big hotels like the Lake Bogoria Spa Resort,” says Kelwon.

Former powerful nominated MP and close Moi ally Ezekiel Barngetuny was the organiser and master of ceremonies during the exercise.

He made the auction even more interesting as he taunted ministers and prominent personalities in the competitive bid-to-buy system.

LIVE ON RADIO

The event, which was aired live on national radio and television, often treated the nation to amusement as Barng’etuny bandied between two or more competing ministers at stunning speed.

According to former Baringo County Council Finance Committee Chairman Wesley Lekakimon, the council was assured of cash every December.  Today, it collects less than Sh2 million from livestock cess annually.