Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Principal Secretary Andrew Tuimur has revealed that a donkey slaughterhouse in Mogotio will be operational in the next three months.
Speaking after touring the Chinese Goldox Kenya Limited on Wednesday, the PS said the facility which to be set up on the Nakuru-Marigat Road in Mogotio, Baringo County has been duly certified, and the Chinese proprietors will receive a licence of operation from the government.
‘The government together with the Chinese proprietors have agreed on setting up a slaughterhouse for donkey which will sit on a 10-acre land. We will also issue an operational licence to other donkey abattoirs in Naivasha which are worth Sh15 million so that they can start operating as soon as possible,’ Tuimur stated.
On his side, Lu Jing, the facility`s operations manager said the donkey abattoir will be run alongside a crocodile farm in the area while dismissing fears that the facility will pave way for donkey meat to find its way in local butcheries.
‘The sole purpose of setting up this facility is to export the donkey meat to Asian markets, and we want to assure locals that no meat will be sold in their butcheries. This factory is tailored on international standards and all products processed here are fit for human consumption,’ Lu Jing said.
According to Lu Jing, the factory has a capacity to handle 100 animals a day and commercialized breeding programs are underway to engage local farmers rear many top grade donkeys in order to sustain the supply for donkey meat to the Asian markets.