Council prepares to ask Kenyan government for help
02/02/2012
Figures the council has put together suggest that in the 1995–2000 period, only 15% of exported hides from Kenya had undergone any sort of processing before leaving the country, with 85% leaving in raw state. In 2001–2005, 75% of exported hides had been processed, at least to wet blue. But in the most recent period for which figures are available, 2006–2010, 90% of material was being processed in Kenya and only 10% sold as raw hides and skins.
Chief executive of the council, Dr Mwinyikione Mwinyihija, said 13 tanneries in total were operational across Kenya. The overall sector (including manufacturers of finished products) employs around 16,750 people at the moment, compared to 1,700 in 1995–2000.
He said the council, which was set up towards the end of 2010, was now preparing to present some findings to the government on what it can and should do to keep the momentum going on turning hides and skins from Kenya into finished goods made from the material in Kenya.
The recommendations include suggestions for improving raw material quality by improving husbandry, slaughter practices and storage. The council will also recommend that the government help set up industrial parks, give manufacturers easier access to finance, provide skills training and improve the environmental performance of manufacturers in the country.
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