Meat shortage looms in Nairobi.

24 Aug, 2008

Nairobians could be facing a meat shortage following the ordered closure of five private slaughterhouses in the capital due to non-compliance with environmental regulations. The order affects Dagoretti, Nyongara, Mumu, Thiani and Nyonjoro abattoirs, which together slaughter over 330 animals a day. In mid-May the slaughterhouses were given three months to meet standards concerning the management and treatment of polluting effluent, which officials from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) say is currently released straight into the Nairobi river. NEMA has said it will not lift the closure order until the standards have been fully met. The closure is not only expected to push up the price of meat in Nairobi but also affects up to 5,000 jobs.