Game meat galore in Nakuru

BY OUR REPORTER

A SECTION of Nakuru residents are exposed to danger for reportedly consuming unhealthy game meat suspected to be the work of poachers. Investigations revealed that the meat is sold in food kiosks and butcheries at extreme low prices in some sections of Nakuru town residential areas that border the Lake Nakuru National Park like

Our sources divulged that a kilo of “meat” costs as cheap as Kshs.30 and Kshs.20. Further investigation bare that some food kiosks in the town center’s back streets are also peddling game meat in the popular “nyama choma” joints.

Two years ago, Lord Delamere’s grandson Tom Cholmondley shot dead a local in his Soysambu farm whom he suspected to be among a group of poachers who ravage the game reserve located along Nakuru -Nairobi highway. He was acquainted of manslaughter.

Our reporter accompanied a local to one of the food kiosks in a low class residential area that border lake Nakuru National Park.This is where most locals come for a good bite of Nyama choma at affordable prices.

The meat is very red, hard to bite and chew with a strange taste. Served with a plate of Ugali or chapatti it costs only ksh.60 for the two and weighs about a kilo each meal.

At a nearby butchery, village women rush in to secure a good super for their families as a “meat” suppler has just arrived. “Customers” get alerted through mobile phones communication once there is a supply ready.

The suppliers are men in their mid thirties look messy and in a hush, they glance from one direction to the other seemingly in a hurry to settle the illegal deal. The meat supplies stuffed in bloody sacks is hastily off-loaded from a motor bike before butcher men distribute to waiting anxious customers.

Though game meat is illegal in the country investigations, reveal that it is rampant because of poaching.

President Kibaki while opening the former Kenya Meat Commission had hoped that it would reduce poaching for illegal meat supply. Kenya looses about 50% of annual wild life population growth to poaching a trend that nature conservationists believe is a threat to wildlife diversity.

On the other hand, public health experts believe that game meat consumption is dangerous as it exposes consumers to harmful meat products not certified for human consumption.