Wajir butcheries remain closed ahead of Idd Festival

Wajir butcheries remain closed ahead of Idd Festival. This is due to the ban on food animals as a result of the outbreak of RVF (Courtesy)

By Kevin Kyalo

WAJIR—Butchers in Wajir County are counting losses as they will remain closed ahead of the Idd festival on Friday.

This is due to the ban on meat and milk that was effected last week after two people succumbed to Rift Valley Fever (RVF). The death toll has risen to 5.

The neighboring Mandera and Garissa counties have  issued an alert over the spread of this killer disease.

Some butchers owners in Wajir have criticized this ban and have called for  thorough  inspections instead.

“Some of us depend on this business to support our families. Meat should be inspected after slaughter and before it is sold,”A local butcher told Kulan Post.

Wajir County health CEC, Abdihakim Billow on Monday said that the ban had been extended to the whole county after increase in human and livestock deaths.

“A task force comprising technical staff from the departments of livestock, public health and the national government has been established to monitor the situation,” Billow said.

Wajir County governor early this week met the Cabinet Secretary for devolution, Eugene Wamalwa to lobby for relief food until the ban on food animals is lifted.

Mandera County health secretary Okash Adan urged the general public to be proactive, vigilant and to immediately report any signs and symptoms of the disease  at the prevention desks established across the 7 Sub counties.

“We have decided to take this early opportunity to caution our livestock keepers to be on high alert considering that this disease has already caused deaths in Wajir,” he said.

Mandera Director for Veterinary Services Claudio Sortum announced closure of all slaughter houses in areas bordering Wajir until the threat is eradicated. He classified the situation as medium risk.

“No incident has been reported in Mandera County, but the outbreak in Wajir is worrying.”he noted.

Pastoralism is the main source of livelihood for Northeastern communities and the ban surely hurts the economy.