Baringo rues collapse of Moi’s goat auction

  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTEMAILRATING

File | Nation Former President Daniel arap Moi (in white shirt) leads a delegation of the who’s who in politics and the corporate sector as they are shown the livestock available for auction at Kimalel Primary School in 1991. 

By WYCLIFF KIPSANG wkipsang@ke.nationmedia.com And DENNIS ODUNGA dodunga@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, December 31  2011 at  22:00

IN SUMMARY

• Residents recall a past of plenty but now say a lack of market has contributed to poverty and crime

The new year is here, marking the end of the festive season and the beginning of a period of expenditure, especially on school fees.

And for residents of Kimalel in Marigat district, this period reminds them of the good old days when former President Daniel arap Moi would lead a delegation of the who’s who in the corporate and political arena to participate in a much-publicised goat auction.

The auction – where residents would showcase their livestock for sale to the highest bidder – would take place just before Christmas, and residents would use proceeds from the annual event to cater for celebrations over the festive season and pay school fees in the new year.

The past

The event is now a thing of the past. Besides the narrow tarmac road that extends into the venue from the main Kabarnet-Marigat Road, there is no indication that any economically viable activity takes place at the once famous site.

Share This Story

Share 

The auction project was started by Mr Moi in 1986 and was aimed at improving the living standards of Baringo County residents.

The project that was supposed to turn around the economy of the semi-arid area, whose mainstay is livestock keeping, collapsed when Mr Moi left office in 2002.

More than Sh50 million had been raised from the sale of 31,863 goats, 2,518 sheep and 180 cows, according to records held by Baringo County Council that run to the early 90s.

Residents who spoke to the Sunday Nation were nostalgic when speaking about the auction and commended Mr Moi’s attempts to help them be self-reliant.

Kimalel location’s chief, Mr Andrew Rumenya, who was the Koriema sub-location chief at the time, says the goats were grouped according to locations.

“Sometimes a goat would sell for as much as Sh20,000, which was a lot of money that time. We would later go to banks and collect the money as per each location’s sale and distribute it to our people who had brought their animals for sale,” explained Mr Rumenya.

Mr Rumenya, who operates butcheries in the area, recalls how people used to flock the area from various parts of the country for the occasion.

“We were assured of a sumptuous Christmas because we were sure that people would always come to buy our goats. But since the collapse of the project, such festivities pass without fanfare,” said the chief.

Some of the guests accompanied Mr Moi out of curiosity to get a feel of where the country’s president came from.

“Those who came felt privileged to be in the president’s entourage. They gave money generously as the master of ceremony and the crowd present cheered them,” recalls Ms Kobilo Cheserek, an area resident.

Live animals

Those who could not carry home live animals would have them slaughtered and carry the meat, while others would purchase goats but leave them behind for the community to feast on.

“Meat from goats reared here is sweet because of the kind of vegetation they feed on and the red soils that made the meat delicious even without salt being added to it. The quality of the meat would lure guests back,” said Ms Cheserek.

Livestock farmers in the area who depended on the auction to raise school fees for their children and meet other financial commitments are now a disillusioned lot.

Ms Jemukut Ptalam, 50, from Kolloa area in Baringo East district said that people looked after their livestock well knowing they would reap their benefits come December.

The residents say that since former Kanu heavyweights lost power, their predecessors have not attempted to revive the project.

“But unscrupulous middlemen are now taking advantage of the lack of market to exploit us. Most people cannot raise school fees and many children have dropped out of school,” said the mother of six.

“Our county has millions of goats and if an abattoir and hides factory were set up, it would create lots of jobs for our youth. We shall support a leader who has the passion to invest in such projects as we move towards a county government,” said Mr Joseph Ng’etich, a resident.

Former nominated MP Ezekiel Barng’etuny, who was full of vigour and humour, would MC at the goat auction.

Asked recently in a television interview what he misses about the Moi era, Mr Barng’etuny, 91, recalled the goat auction at Kimalel Primary School and said he would not mind doing the job again.

Mr Barng’etuny would make fun of Mr Moi’s allies, forcing them to outdo each other in bidding for the animals.

For instance, if the then vice-president George Saitoti was bidding against former Kenya Power boss Samuel Gichuru, the bidding would see Mr Barng’etuny alternate between the two names with amazing speed, much to the amusement of those gathered. Mr Moi was also not spared.

The event was often covered live by State broadcaster KBC.

According to Baringo County Council finance committee chairman Wesley Lekakimon, the council was assured of a significant amount in terms of revenue every December, but now it collects less than Sh2 million a year from livestock cess.

The auction was also used to promote peaceful coexistence among the pastoralist communities neighbouring each other.

“We would laugh at the jokes together and later return home more united than we came,” said Mr Lekakimon.

He says that following the collapse of the auction market, cattle rustling and banditry have been on the rise.

“Baringo County is rich in many resources and we can partner with other counties to supply them with livestock products and in the process improve people’s living standards,” he added.