Kiambu County residents who love meat may be forced to look for an alternative meal this weekend.
This comes after butchers at Dagoretti slaughterhouse put down their tools this morning.
The butchers went on strike protesting the increase of different levies by the county government of Kiambu.
The abattoirs went round Dagoretti area chanting slogans against the leadership of the county government.
Paul Mwangi, a butcher, said they were never consulted when the new rates were introduced.
They accused the area county assembly representative, Binary Wainaina, of not representing them at the assembly and not informing them when the new levies were installed.
Josphat Karanja, a businessman, said it had become hard for them to transact business in the area due high operating costs.
The cost of inspecting goat meat is now at Sh100, up from Sh50 while that of cow meat stands at Sh150.
The cess fee for a goat has been increased from Sh8 to Sh50 while that of a cow has been doubled to Sh100.
Traders bringing their animals to the market are charged a landing fee of Sh500 and Sh200 for a cow and goat respectively. The permit to transport meat has been increased from Sh20 to Sh50.
“When all these fees and others are added up, it becomes very expensive to do business here. We want the county government to support the business people,” said Karanja.