Traders ask Kenya to lift ban on Uganda poultry products

Traders in Busia County have asked the Kenyan government to lift a ban on imports of poultry products from Uganda.

The Kenyan government in mid-January banned the imports following the outbreak of avian flu in the country.

Speaking to nation.co.ke on Monday, the traders, led by Eggs Suppliers Union representative Erick Osumba, said the ban will push traders out of business.

They said Uganda had lifted its ban two weeks ago and they wondered why Kenyan authorities have not lifted the ban yet

“After doing a thorough risk assessment, Uganda confirmed there is no avian flu. Kenyan delegation went to Uganda to confirm the same and came with samples which are yet to be made public.

“Why are they subjecting traders to this kind of hostility? Some of us have taken loans and we also have to pay school fees for our children,” Mr Osumba asked.

The traders said most towns in Kenya are experiencing a shortage of eggs.

“We have taken an initiative of visiting different market centres in the country and found out most of them are experiencing scarcity of eggs including Kitale, Moi's Bridge, Wangige and Thika. All our customers are also complaining.

“We ask Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett to intervene and make sure we are back in business,” said Margaret Wanjohi.

Earlier this month, Kenya indicated it may lift the ban after experts from the two countries met to assess the outbreak of bird flu.

However, Mr Bett did not confirm when the ban would be lifted.

The Ugandan government, on more than two occasions through Uganda’s agriculture minister Vincent Ssempija, sought to reassure Kenya that it had contained the outbreak, adding that most farms that export eggs to Kenya are located more than 10 km from quarantined area.

Kenyan poultry traders have been sourcing eggs, hatched day-old chicks and poultry meat from Uganda because they are far cheaper than local products.

Eggs are imported from Uganda for Sh7 each and sold for Sh15 in Kenya.