More than 30 butchers in Mumias town held a protest today after the Mumias slaughterhouse was closed following a water disconnection by Kakamega County Water and Sewerage Company (KACUWASCO).
They argued that the slaughterhouse, which serves Mumias town and its outskirts, is a critical facility and shutting it down amounts to what they called a major injustice.
Speaking during the demonstration, Mr Shadrack Okweto questioned why KACUWASCO, a department under the county government, would disconnect water without notice. He said it was surprising that one government entity could cut services to another.
“We were not given any notice. We came here with our animals only to be met with a harsh warning from the town manager,” he said.
The butcherers claimed the county government owes KACUWASCO more than KSh 800,000, despite them paying what they consider reasonable fees. According to them, each cow slaughtered is charged KSh 500, while a goat attracts a fee of KSh 200.
They also alleged that the slaughterhouse lacks key equipment such as machines and ropes despite contributing more than half a million shillings every month.
The traders called on Governor Fernandes Barasa to urgently address the challenges facing the slaughterhouse, saying the meat business in Mumias depends heavily on its smooth operation.
Mr Ali Wangalwa, the chairperson of the butcherers, accused the county government of neglecting its responsibilities. He said their business deals with perishable products and halting operations over a water issue was unreasonable, especially since the water agency is county-managed.
“We will not pay the KSh 500 per animal until the water issue is fixed,” he said. “Everything here is in a dilapidated state. The county government is doing very little and we are not going to allow this to continue.”
Wangalwa added that services were better under the previous regime, saying it was disappointing that things had deteriorated under Governor Barasa. He urged the governor to fix the water problem and address other long-standing issues at the facility.
Mumias Municipality Manager Chris Ombunya acknowledged that the business community pays for services at the slaughterhouse and confirmed there have been challenges with the system. However, he expressed confidence that the matter was being handled.
He admitted the county owes KACUWASCO some money, especially from the slaughterhouse and the bus park. He said revenue collections are ongoing and the issue is being addressed.
“My office has done everything possible to avert the problem, and we believe it will be resolved before it gets out of hand,” he said.
There has been a growing public outcry over declining service delivery in Mumias, with residents directing their frustrations at the county executive, accusing it of doing very little to address persistent challenges.
