PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NMG 

The increased chicken meat imports from neighbouring countries is causing more harm than good to Kenyan poultry farmers.

For example, Uganda is exporting chicken meat to Kenya, tax free while Kenyan farmers are importing at 25 percent, - 18 percent VAT, six percent withholding tax (WHT) and one percent railway development levy.

The Kenyan poultry industry is a major source of employment, with an estimated three million people deriving their livelihood and income from poultry farming, processing and related activities.

The poultry industry is a major source of livelihood for people in the rural areas including thousands of youth and women who are engaged in rearing chicken and other domestic birds.

This means that the Uganda poultry products have a free access to the Kenyan market while the Kenyan products are hindered from access to Uganda through Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) or imposition of domestic taxes (VAT, withholding taxes or railway levies).