The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) faces potential Sh290 million funding cuts after a 2019 parliamentary committee investigation revealed incomplete budget utilization and stalled modernization efforts. The Agriculture Committee chairman, Adan Haji, ordered the commission to submit audited financial records for the past three years, citing concerns over unspent allocations.
Only Sh125 million of the Sh500 million allocated in the 2017/18 budget had been expended, prompting scrutiny of a 2017 contract with a Turkish firm to install modern slaughtering equipment. The agreement lapsed without work commencement, raising questions about the commission's management. Haji stated, "The talk of privatization is a rumour," emphasizing the need for transparency in decisions affecting the livestock sector.
Livestock Cabinet Secretary Andrew Tuimur reiterated government support for privatization, aiming to boost corned beef production to 72 tonnes per slaughter and reduce hide wastage from 40% to 5%. However, the committee emphasized that future funding required clear justification of past expenditures and contractor capabilities, with Haji noting, "We want to know if this contractor has the capacity to do the job." The committee also questioned the lack of public consultation on privatization plans, calling the process "a rumour" without official confirmation.
