For over 63 years, Lubao market in Shinyalu constituency of Kakamega county has been in the limelight over its art of dog trading.
Since the market is located along the busy Kakamega-Webuye highway and the market covers two bordering constituencies, Kakamega and Shinyalu.
Malava Sub County covers the larger part of the market with majority of the shops and the modern market that is being constructed by the Kakamega county government. Northern part of the main market, dogs are sold along with cows, goats and sheep with the southern part reserved for retail and wholesale businesses.
The advent of the plant created hiding zones for wild animals that attacked the residents and their livestock; they hence needed to source alternatives to deal with it. According to mzee Agrey Shiyonga, a former dog trader at Lubao market, dogs were of great help to their safety.
People bring dogs from the neighbouring towns like Webuye, Eldoret, Kapsabet, and Kitale and as far as Burnt Forest for sale. On a good market day, more than 100 dogs are sold here. Every Thursday is booming business, starting from the road to the market, to the market itself. The real story. Lubao was a slaughterhouse, long time ago.
They alerted them of an incoming danger by barking, thus giving them time to prepare and face the enemy. “Some families used them for protection while others they were used for hunting,” he said
By tuko