Northern Kenya

Drought: Pastoralists to benefit from Sh1 billion restocking plan

ASALs and Regional Development PS Kello Harsama during a meeting on Wednesday. (X/Kello Harsama)

By Waweru Wairimu | Tuesday, June 11, 2024

At the same time, PS Kello revealed that an extra Sh800 million had been set aside to support programmes aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change in Marsabit County.

Pastoralists who lost millions of animals to the recent drought which was Kenya's worst in four decades are set to benefit from a State's compensation plan.

ASAL and Regional Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama announced that Sh1 billion had been set aside to help pastoralist communities in 23 arid and semi-arid counties that incurred losses in billions of shillings following the massive death of their livestock to restock.

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The 23 counties were among the hard-hit and produced a majority of the four million Kenyans who faced starvation due to the drought that also resulted in the drying of water sources, forcing pastoralists to walk longer distances in search of pastures and water for domestic and livestock use.

"The funds will enable pastoralists to restock, cushioning them against the losses they suffered," Kello said.

Employing an estimated 50 per cent of the agricultural labour force, the Sh150 billion livestock subsector plays a vital economic role in Kenya's economy and contributes between 10 and 13 per cent to the National Gross Domestic Product.

At the same time, PS Kello revealed that an extra Sh800 million had been set aside to support programmes aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change in Marsabit County.

"The government has also set aside Sh250 million for an aggregation centre to support pastoralists in the value-addition of hides and skins which are mostly thrown away, enabling them to earn more for improved livelihoods," he noted.

He spoke during a stakeholders' engagement on the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) for 2023-2027 in Marsabit town presided over by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki.