Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu has requested President William Ruto to help in the construction of an abattoir in Narok.
Speaking on Sunday, Ntutu disclosed that he only requires Sh1 billion from the national government, and the rest will be footed by the devolved unit.
The governor further disclosed that he had found a contractor from Botswana who wanted to set up an abattoir similar to the one in Isiolo county.
"It will cost about Sh2 billion. I was requesting you Mr President that you can find sh1 billion for us and as a county we will sort out the remaining amount to construct the abattoir," Ntutu said.
The county boss added that all cows, goats and sheep from Narok will be slaughtered at the abattoir.
Ntutu acknowledged that already having a hides and skin factory, hence it cannot function unless we have an abattoir that is closer
"This (abattoir) compliments your vision of not importing leather products including shoes," he noted.
The hides and skin factory built by the national government through Ewaso Ngiro South Development Authority (ENSDA) can process 800, 000 square feet of leather per year making it the biggest leather factory in the country.
The factory that was built in the year 2018 currently employs 90 people directly and many others indirectly back then.
To support local production, President William Ruto last year pledged to ban the importation of the products.
He said that it was time Kenya supported local production of the raw material available.
"Miaka mbili ijayo, nitapiga marufuku mambo ya kuleta viatu na mambo mengine ya leather kutoka nje," Ruto said back then.
This translates to: In the next two years, I will ban the importation of leather products. We will start producing our own leather products.
The Head of State noted that by having local manufacturing of leather products, jobs will be created.
"Even if there are jobs outside, we have to create here back at home," Ruto said.
He emphasized that the Kenya Kwanza government has big plans for the manufacturing sector.
Ruto said the identified value chains have significant untapped industrial potential and will create thousands of jobs.
“We see leather, pyrethrum, cotton, textiles and apparel, pharmaceutical, edible oils as value chains whose industrialisation will hasten the attainment of our vision for national economic growth and transformation,” the President said.
