The Meru government is ready to reopen its 24-hour slaughterhouse at Thimangiri in North Imenti after a shutdown of about 10 years.
The facility, which sits on approximately six acres of land and has been under renovation.
“It will be a 24-hour facility where people can sell or buy cattle. It will create jobs...operations will begin any time now,”
said Ken Kinoti, Meru County Investment & Development Corporation
(MCIDC) business director.
“It will be the largest in Meru after Gakoromone and Ruiri. Everything has been structured...drainage and electricity have been installed, plumbing work done and water connections established.
"It will be an expansive one-stop shop where women can sell snacks and tea. Boda boda operators will earn from it and other trade exchanges will take place. This is a way to make every resident have a share of the county cake."
Kinoti noted
the slaughterhouse is a long-term investment that will open up the county.
He said it was shut down due to poor management under
Meru
municipal
council leaders.
Animals from Meru and neighbouring Tharaka Nithi were slaughtered at the facility located
four kilometers away from Meru town.
“It is one of the county facilities that were mismanaged and brought loss and suffering to traders. We have already allocated meat inspectors," KInoti
told The Star in his office in Meru town on Friday.
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MCIDC is a government liability and statutory body established by MCIDC Act, 2014. Its mandates are to promote, attract and support investments in sectors including agriculture, livestock value addition, tourism and hospitality, renewable energy generation and real estate.
The corporation is empowered by law to own and operate assets on behalf of the county, profile investment opportunities and enter into deals with the public-private sector.
It does so through
financing options that include joint ventures, public-private partnerships and hybrid debt-equity models.