Workers at a tannery in Kenya. Narok County government to build a tannery to offer market hides and skins. Photo courtesy.
The county government of Narok is planning to construct leather tannery to process hides and skins. The Sh1.2bn tannery will offer a market for hides and skins for farmers from Nakuru, Nyandarua, Narok and Kajiado counties that have often gone to waste.
According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Economic Survey 2018, the livestock sector contributes about 12 per cent to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 40 per cent to the agricultural GDP and employs 50 per cent of the agricultural labor force.
About 60 per cent of Kenya’s livestock herd is found in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), which constitute about 80 per cent of the country.
This even as the leather market currently on its knees and flooded with synthetic imports.
Cattle keepers in Narok County are a replica of what happens in other parts of the country, they have had to make do with meager returns from their efforts.
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The Narok County government with support from the national government is establishing a tannery that will provide a market for hides and skins from four counties namely Nakuru, Nyandarua, Narok and Kajiado.
This according to stakeholders will enable them earn from their efforts while at the same time revamp the leather market in the country.
The tannery once complete will produce up to 4,000 tons of leather per year and it is hoped that the establishment of the tannery will also be a catalyst for the growth of the area’s economy.