Outcry in Naivasha as County proposes demolition of slaughterhouse for Affordable Housing projects

Local leaders have questioned the move and the rationale behind closing the Naivasha slaughterhouse and relocating the traders to another facility.

The traders are also opposed to the destruction of the slaughterhouse to facilitate other projects in the county.

The facility, constructed by the Denmark government, is a source of livelihood for approximately 2000 workers, and its potential closure has caused great anger and uproar among the staff.

"We want the county government to stop bothering us. We have not refused to pay, and we do not know where they plan to relocate us. We are concerned because every town has its own slaughterhouse, and with the way this one is built, I don't know where else such a facility could be found," says a worker.

Speaking at the facility, Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja termed the move as illegal and inhumane. Karanja said she would petition the Senate to intervene, as the facility is one of a kind in the area and the only source of meat for Naivasha town and tens of institutions in the surrounding areas.

The Nakuru Senator further assured the community that the slaughterhouse would not be demolished.

"This land occupies 55 acres. This section you're in is 15 acres. The remaining 40 acres can accommodate the stadium. The Nakuru stadium occupies 23 acres, so there is more than enough space. Even if it's the county government, they should respect all investments."

"This investment supports more than 10,000 families, and it's the source of meat for hotels and even the prison here. This behaviour of displacing people for affordable housing is something we will resist because we cannot allow it," she said.

One of the traders, Peter Njogu, said the closure of the facility would greatly affect workers and many residents indirectly.

Njogu questioned the timing of the slaughterhouse's closure, noting that some people were interested in the prime land around the facility.

"As residents here, we are very hurt. We spend a lot of money; we suffer to buy water, and we spend money on legal fees because we are in court with the county government over this slaughterhouse. We are asking the county government to give us our land," he added.

Speaking earlier, the CEC for land in Nakuru, John Kihagi, said that the land in question had been earmarked for a stadium while the county had constructed another slaughterhouse in Mirera.