Pastoralists receive Sh1.6 billion in state-backed insurance payout

Pastoralists have received Sh1.6 billion in insurance payouts from the De-Risking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies (DRIVE) project.

Launched in October 2022 by the State Department for Livestock Development in collaboration with key partners such as ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), Kenya Development Corporation (KDC), and the World Bank Group, the initiative aimed to safeguard pastoralists from livelihood losses caused by adverse drought conditions.

According to government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, the project has covered 696,642 pastoralists and their dependents.

The number of individual pastoralists and tropical livestock insured stands at 107,492 and 411,123, respectively.

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Mwaura emphasised the government's commitment to uplifting farmers' welfare, stating, "The government is keenly following up on the DRIVE project, which is aimed at cushioning the economies from drought risk, increasing financial inclusion of the pastoralists, and connecting them to the market."

Pastoralists enrolled in the scheme have received a Sh6,000 enrollment savings bonus, totalling to a bonus payout of Sh492.1 million.

The project has not only provided financial security, but it has also empowered women, with the percentage of women owning bank accounts increasing from a baseline of 33 per cent to an impressive 108 per cent.

Benefiting counties span 21 ASAL regions, including Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Laikipia, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Kilifi, Kwale, and Lamu counties. Others include Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Samburu, Baringo, West Pokot, Narok, Kajiado, Makueni, and Kitui counties.

The initiative also aims to facilitate livestock trade across Horn of Africa (HOA) countries and enhance livestock value chains through the mobilisation of private investments.