City Affairs

Kiamaiko businesspeople raise uproar after NEMA operations at slaughterhouses

Meat at Kiamaiko slaughterhouses.

By Hanifa Adan | Saturday, March 9, 2024

The workers claimed they had adhered to the regulations, including proper disposing of their waste, claims NEMA refutes.

Kiamaiko businessmen have raised an uproar after a multi-agency team initiated enforcement of the closure of the slaughterhouses on March 8.

The operations, prompted by a court order from July 28, 2022, cited illegal operations and environmental violations, including poor waste management and untreated liquid waste discharge into the river, as alleged by NEMA.

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But Kiamaiko businessmen claim they have complied with regulations for over 20 years and attribute the Friday's operations to competitive sabotage.

"Kiamaiko slaughterhouses have complied with every rule set for us for over 20 years. We also have adhered to any changes made by NEMA and the county. Our business rivals are behind these operations," said Ali Mohammed, one of the owners of the slaughterhouses.

The workers claimed they had adhered to the regulations, including proper disposing of their waste, claims NEMA refutes.

"The county trucks are always here picking up the trash. We have young men who clean the entire road and corridors so the place is always tidy," said Abdi Kulow, a worker.

The businessmen urged the government to lift the order, saying more than 2,000 workers employed at the facility will be rendered jobless.

"Thousands of people are hired here and benefit from this place daily. They can feed their families owing to the never-ending opportunities here. We are appealing to the government to protect us because we are only trying to feed our families," says Simon Nyayo, a worker at a slaughterhouse.

NEMA emphasizes that the enforcement aims to address environmental and health standards, safeguarding consumer welfare.

The authority accused the slaughterhouses of poor waste management and lack of hygiene, stating that the operators discharged untreated liquid waste into the river.

On Friday, the multiagency team planned to withdraw all the Government services offered to Kiamaiko Slaughterhouses especially, the Veterinary Services of meat inspection, public health services, and issuance of Single business permits offered by the Nairobi City County and the services offered by the Nairobi water and sewerage company.

"The decision to enforce closure stems from longstanding concerns regarding the handling of blood and offal, as well as the improper treatment of wastewater discharge, as outlined in the Water Quality Regulations of 2006," said NEMA.

The multi-agency emphasized that the intention behind these enforcement measures wasn’t aimed at impeding the legitimate trade of meat or the operation of butcheries.

“Rather, the focus is squarely on addressing the specific deficiencies observed within the slaughterhouse facilities themselves which degrade the environment.”