How reopened livestock markets in Baringo are promoting North Rift’s socio-economic growth

Unbeknown to many Kenyans, the past frequent closures of the Nginyang livestock market in Tiaty East, Baringo County over insecurity, often led to a shortage of meat supply in the city and beyond.

The is the largest and most popular livestock market in the region, ranking as the second largest in the country after the Garissa livestock market, with an estimated daily turnover of Sh4 million.

For a long time, the market has been widely suspected to have been aiding banditry and cattle rustling following claims that stolen animals would be sold here for distribution to other markets, thus fuelling raids in the region.

Traders travel to these two markets from Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret and other parts of the country in search of goats to supply to the Burma market, Dagoretti livestock market and other meat and livestock traders and exporters, some of whom reportedly ship them to countries like Saudi Arabia.

On Monday morning last week, Nginyang market was vibrant with activity, herders walking in with their livestock for sale as buyers walked inside the market looking for their preferred sizes, and others parked their lorries at one corner outside the market waiting to load their requirements for the day.

Livestock market committees

Chris Ochieng, the assistant county commissioner in charge of the area and the local chief were on standby, closely overseeing the trading activities that are supervised by a livestock market association (LMA) committee whose main role is to prevent the sale of stolen livestock at the market and mark those bought with ink to protect them from theft.

"This market had been closed for a while (three months) due to insecurity. During that period, many residents suffered and could not take their children to school as the market served as their main source of livelihood. That has since changed when the market was reopened as parents have been able to return their children to school," Ochieng said.

Joseph Kwopin the secretary of the Nginyang LMA explained that both locals and the county government suffered losses during the time as on a good market day, at least 5,000 cows as well as 15,000 goats are traded here. This is in addition to at least 45 donkeys and 50 camels.

To prevent the sale of stolen animals in the region, the multiagency team under Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift has supported markets in the region to establish LMAs whose roles include mediating market conflicts and recovering suspected stolen livestock at the market.

Stolen animals

He explained that his committee can pick out stolen animals from the herd brought for sale at the market, thus intercepting stolen animals and curbing intercommunal conflicts.

"We are experts in animal biology. We can tell its source by its structure and form and in instances where a trader is found with an animal belonging to another community, they are set aside and interrogated at the end of the market day to establish its source," he said.

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• Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift
• livestock markets
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• Tiaty East
• How reopened livestock markets in Baringo are promoting North Rift’s socio-economic growth
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Complex cases are referred to the chief and security officials.

"Those found to be police cases are referred to the police who check on the station where their theft was reported. As LMA, we operate as one community and don't favour one community over the other," the market's LMA chairperson Priscah Atolim said.

The resumption of market days has also helped support other businesses within the market where women flock to sell food to traders.

"In 2017, the market was closed when two communities fought after which it was re-opened and closed again until recently when the current operation began. On good days, I'd sell up to eight crates of soda but that dropped to two and three when the situation worsened," said Martha Loriko, a water soft drinks trader who has earned her livelihood in the trade for 14 years.

She noted that some of her clients have comprised people coming from within the region, Nakuru, Kericho, Nairobi and Eldoret.

Taxes for Baringo County

Meanwhile, every Wednesday, Loruk livestock market takes over from where Nginyang left on Monday. Though smaller in size, the market fetches good taxes for Baringo County with a revenue collection officer estimating an average collection of Sh200,000 on a good day.

For the last five years, David Yator has been buying goats from one market to sell to the other.

The Eastleigh Voice meets him at Loruk livestock market with goats loaded on a box cage on top of his motorbike. He says when the market closes, he suffers as this has become his sole source of livelihood.

"When the conflict happened, I fled towards Kerio Valley where I felt safe. I am however back because I know the area has been calm for a while," he said.

Today, there are no cows on sale due to lack of pasture, a factor that has pushed out herders from the area.

A revenue collection official notes that on a bad day, the county collects about Sh10,000 on a single livestock market day. On good days, the county collects as much as Sh200,000.

This is from the tax charged at Sh100 per goat, which is shared 50-50, half from the seller, and half from the buyer.

The tax amount is however higher for cows. Some traders feel the amount taxed is not exploitative as they share it out 50-50.

Orderly sale of livestock

The market was modernised by the county government in December last year to allow the orderly sale of livestock, revenue collection and rent out permanent shelters that allow the clean sale of food items to traders at the built complimentary stalls.

"I sell tea and porridge to all communities without any issues. They come to buy it and enjoy it together. We thank security officials for the work they are doing here in maintaining peace and plead that they keep securing us," says Joyce Chirchir.

The return of market days, a key indicator of the resumption of socio-economic activities, is supported by the resumption of normalcy in the North Rift region.