Residents of Laikipia County want the government to prioritize the construction of slaughter houses, to serve livestock rich region.
The residents, who mainly are pastoralists and drew their livelihoods from livestock keeping, said that they did not have a slaughterhouse despite the region priding in high exportation of live animals for slaughter to other counties.
They said that only one abattoir that served people as far as Baringo County, was located in Rumuruti town and was privately owned.
The residents, who addressed UDA Deputy Presidential aspirant Rigathi Gachagua, during an economic forum in Nyahururu, also demanded to be actively involved in election of officials to the Kenya Meat Commission, KMC, for better representation.
Rigathi assured the livestock keepers that they would be spared slots in the Kenya Meat Commission Board together with other directors, promising to work hand in hand with the County Government to add more slaughterhouses in the county.
John Kuntai, who represented the residents on matters of security, highlighted that majority of the residents knew the geographical terrains of the areas regularly attacked by bandits, but were never considered for National Police Reservists positions.
The UDA president’s running mate challenged the incumbent government saying that if he and his boss were given the opportunity to lead the country, he would solve the issue in a better way and give a permanent solution to it.