Piracy has cost Kenya a lucrative live animals export market.
South Africa and Australia snapped up the Mauritius market after shipping companies withdrew from the Kenyan waters due to threats of piracy.

Livestock traders, who raked in millions of shillings from the exports, are now stranded with their animals. Kenya Livestock Traders Company director Mohammad Mursal said the decision by the shipping lines has dealt a big blow to the industry that was picking up only three years after the European Union lifted the ban on the export of animals and meat products from Kenya. The EU had imposed the ban after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the country.

In the agreement with Mauritius – the only country that was buying live animals from Kenya – the traders were to export about 5,000 animals every year.

Mr Mursal said the owners of the ship that used to carry a consignment of about 1,000 animals withdrew, citing increase operational costs because they had to hire more security during the voyage in the Indian Ocean. He added that due to piracy, buyers switched to other countries for animals.

Either he said, the are timing ships in transit that are willing to ferry the animals as they seek markets in other regions, especially Arab nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Islamic Republic of Iran.