According to the United Nations COMTRADE database of international trade, Kenya imported meat worth $ 1.85 M in the year 2021. This import has been predicted to rise over the coming years due to the increasing freedom of trade between these two East African countries.
The free trade that has seen more small business traders and activities booming around the borders of the two countries, has greatly improved the town centers around and near the borders of Malaba and Busia town. This freedom does not only come with a positive impact but also with a bunch of health risks brought up by the illegal and unlicensed meat trading activities in and around the borders.
Timothy Odende, the Chief Officer Agriculture department in Busia County has vowed to put an end to this illegal importation of meat from Uganda. He is worried that most of the meats consumed by the residents of Busia are not safe. Most of them are never inspected by the health experts thus putting the consumers at risk.
Mr. Odende while inspecting the Busia Town Slaughterhouse with a capacity to slaughter more than 200 cows per day says that currently only 10 cows are slaughtered daily in that slaughterhouse, an activity that paves the way for illegal importation of meat from Uganda.
“The reason is the collapse of the infrastructures that are there. We also know that it is through the borders that we sometimes get illegal Meats that are brought to our butcheries.” Odende explained
Moreover, Mr. Odende confirmed that corrective measures are put in place for the modernization of the Busia Town Slaughter house to ensure its maximization of production.
“We saw it fit to first improve the capacity of our slaughterhouse and then work on stopping meat that is coming through the borders to help safeguard the health and safety of the residents of Busia”
