Meat lovers might be forced to contend with high prices of meat during this year’s festivities as the prices of livestock in Kajiado County skyrockets.
Over the years, the pastoral Kajiado County has been among the highest meat supplier especially to the County satellite towns that border Nairobi Capital city and the city itself.
With an annual turn over of Sh3.2 billion, thousands heads of cattle sold annually in its main markets of Ilbisil, Shompole, Kimana and Emali.
However, the 2020-2022 dire drought left at least 800,000 animals dead and 350 families facing starvation. The recent rains hasn’t helped much as herders struggle to restock their animals.
Due to the shortage of animal supply in markets prices have tripped.
In most Livestock markets the price of a goat or a sheep has shot up to Sh20,000 from Sh8,000 few months ago.
A mature cow is retailing between Sh70,000-Sh120,000 with mature bull fetching between Sh100,000-Sh150,000.
The wholesale prices of meat from the slaughter house has increased from Sh380 to Sh480 for a kilo of beef and Sh500 to Sh700 a kilo of mutton respectively.
Most outlets in Kitengela are selling a kilo of beef in between Sh580-Sh600 with mutton selling at Sh800 per kilogram from Sh700 per kilo few months ago to the chagrin of meat lovers.
Most meat lovers maintain that meat will be a luxury during this year christmas.
